Judge Punts Church Politics Decision to the IRS: Texas Brief

Pulpit Politics Are Now in the IRS’s Court

It’s now up to the IRS whether to carry out the Trump administration’s push to let churches endorse political candidates without risking their tax-exempt status, thanks to a Texas judge’s ruling this week, James Matheson and Erin Slowey report.

Judge J. Campbell Barker, appointed during Trump’s first term, rejected a proposed pact between the IRS and National Religious Broadcasters, saying the case lacked a specific incident to challenge — such as a 501(c)(3) status being revoked or an application being denied.

The odds of a church inviting that kind of ...