Last week, the Internal Revenue Service denied a Texas Christian group’s application for non-profit certification claiming its educating on Christian values is political, calling it “political campaign intervention.”
That illegal intervention, the IRS explained, is the group working to “instruct individuals on issues that are prominent in political campaigns and instruct them in what the Bible says about the issue and how they should vote.”
“These issues include the sanctity of life, the definition of marriage, and biblical justice. These issues generally distinguish candidates and are associated with political party platforms.”
Certified non-profit groups encourage their members to vote in accordance with their values all the time. One would be hard-pressed to find a culturally-engaged 501(c)(3) listed entity that does not. What they can’t do is endorse specific political actions or candidates. But according to the IRS in the Biden administration, merely advocating for biblical values in government is an infringement on non-profit bans against overt political activism.
The ruling sparks flashbacks to the IRS targeting of conservative groups in 2013, The intense scrutiny selectively applied to right-leaning organizations led to multiple federal investigations and congressional inquiries.