HinduPACT welcomes IRS decison allowing temples to endorse candidates.
Game Changers: IRS relaxes Political Speech Rules for Religious institutions
For nearly seventy years, the IRS in the United States has restricted the scope of political and religious dialogue. Recently, a quietly reinterpreted Johnson Amendment—a rule that has long prevented religious organizations from engaging in political campaigns—has changed.
This new guidance could be a gamechanger in political engagement. It allows faith leaders to discuss political issues, candidates, and elections during services, sermons, or through their usual religious communications without risking their tax-exempt status. This has the potential to be truly transformative.
Commenting on the IRS ruling, Deepa Karthik, HinduPACT General Secretary and the lead for the HinduVote initiative said:
“Traditionally, Hindu Mandirs have been silent on political discourse within their congregation. This revised interpretation now opens an avenue for Mandirs to modify their internal policies to permit political discourse about candidates and how they align with universal dharmic values.”
How is the Johnson Amendment connected to the reinterpretation
The Johnson Amendment is a section of the U.S. tax code from 1954 that prohibits 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations like churches, temples, synagogues, charities, and educational institutions from endorsing or opposing political candidates. This amendment was intended to prevent tax-exempt organizations from becoming political machines.
Why did this change recently
The IRS made this change in a joint legal filing in the case of National Religious Broadcasters v. Billy Long. The plaintiffs had argued that the Johnson Amendment violated First Amendment rights, specifically freedom of speech and religion. In response, the IRS stated that when churches discuss political matters with their congregations during religious services or regular communications, it is more akin to a “family discussion” than campaign intervention. And the IRS now says that kind of internal conversation doesn’t break the rules.
What This Means for Religious Institutions
This reinterpretation allows religious leaders to:
- Discuss specific political candidates or elections during sermons and religious discussions
- Share political views in newsletters, bulletins, or websites
- Address political topics without fearing IRS penalties
This revision should not be seen as an open invitation to turn into campaign headquarters or political mouthpieces for candidates and campaigns, but it does significantly ease the restrictions on how faith communities can discuss politics.
How this can change political dialogue and engagement
This change could:
- Boost political involvement in houses of worship
- Spark new discussions about the separation of “church and state”
- This could trigger more legal or legislative conflicts and debates
This change could be seen as a double-edged sword. While it is a win for religious freedom, some worry about the potential pitfalls that could blur the lines between spiritual leadership and political influence. Much remains to be seen on how this ruling will play out in the coming days, especially with Gubernatorial elections underway this year in key states like NJ, NY, and Virginia, with more to follow in 2026. Stay tuned for updates.
HinduVote, a HinduPACT initiative will work closely with the temples and provide additional guidance on how to effectively use this IRS ruling
