The IRS has now agreed that churches can air political endorsements without danger of losing their tax-exempt status. Church leaders, especially those with large platforms, have rarely endorsed or spoken against candidates, even the ones who promoted values overtly antithetical to biblical teachings, including abortion and homosexuality. The idea of losing their tax-exempt status has served as an intimidating prospect in a time when many church budgets are hanging by a thread.
Critics are concerned that well-funded special interest lobbies could gain undue influence over church goers.

The government has officially given its blessing to church leaders who want to endorse candidates from the pulpit, removing a decades-old censorship cudgel that was introduced by one of the most knowingly corrupt politicians in American history.

The National Religious Broadcasters and two Texas churches sued the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) last year, arguing that the Johnson Amendment violated freedom of speech and freedom to exercise religion. The IRS has now agreed that churches can air political endorsements without danger of losing their tax-exempt status

In a recent court filing that concluded the lawsuit on Monday, the IRS likened a church preacher who endorses a candidate to a "a family discussion," aligning with biblical doctrine that says churchgoers are brothers and sisters in Christ. The court filing also said this new official recognition doesn't violate any rules and therefore does not threaten a church's tax-exempt status. More from the court document:

Communications from a house of worship to its congregation in connection with religious services through its usual channels of communication on matters of faith do not run afoul of the Johnson Amendment as properly interpreted. This interpretation of the Johnson Amendment is in keeping with the IRS's treatment of the Johnson Amendment in practice.