Churches in Texas invited Beto O’Rourke and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick to speak to their congregations before the 2022 midterms, raising questions about the effectiveness of the Johnson Amendment. With propublica: TXlege tx2022
This article is co-published with ProPublica, a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power.sign up for The BriefTexas gubernatorial candidate Beto O’Rourke and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who is seeking reelection, have been crisscrossing the state in the lead-up to Tuesday’s election, visiting megachurches and smaller houses of worship packed tight with parishioners.
“If our votes were not important, they would not be trying so hard to keep us from voting in this election, and our vote is how we overcome,” O’Rourke told the crowd.congregation at Grace Woodlands church He later added: ”I don’t even recognize the other party. It’s been taken over by communists and socialists.”ProPublica/Texas Tribune screenshot from a Grace Woodlands church video
“Black churches have been important hubs for civic engagement and organization in the fight for social justice since Reconstruction,” Butler said in a statement. “The mixing of faith-based congregations and electoral engagement is not a new concept.
Though Johnson did not single out churches, religious organizations are subject to the law because they are nonprofit organizations. Violations can result in revocation of their tax-exempt status.Nonprofit organizations are barred from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, “any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for elective public office.”
But if one person is invited in their capacity as a candidate, everyone in the race must be given equal opportunity to address parishioners, according to IRS rules. Fundraising is also not allowed during the appearance and the church must maintain a “nonpartisan atmosphere,” the rules state.
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