The IRS made a big announcement last week…
BIG: The 70-year-old ban on churches endorsing political candidates is over.
Thanks to the Trump administration, the well-deserved tax-exempt status enjoyed by churches will no longer be threatened if they express support for candidates from the pulpit.
Is this a good thing?
… and what does this mean for Catholics?
As a matter of law, CV supports this change. Churches are not political organizations. But pastors and religious leaders should not be censored simply for calling attention to candidates and their positions during an election year. The First Amendment protects citizens along with bishops, priests, pastors, and religious leaders equally.
But of course, Catholic churches are unique. We don’t gather at Mass simply to hear from our pastor or priest. The liturgy is the celebration of the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. Its purpose is the re-presentation of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, for the salvation of souls.
The Mass is not primarily a forum for politics – or politicking.
But the Mass is a forum for reading and teaching the Gospel.
It’s why, in part, the liturgy includes a homily. And every priest in every parish bears the responsibility of helping every Catholic to understand and incorporate the Scriptures and the teachings of our Church into our everyday lives – including our civic duties.
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has already made clear that Catholic parishes will not be endorsing political candidates. We support this.
However, these new changes in law now make possible (and encourage) honest and objective pastoral guidance on the principles that ought to guide our voting decisions – including the public positions of specific candidates and where they stand on fundamental Catholic moral teaching – from the pulpit.
No more hiding.
Too often we have heard the excuse: “I can’t speak about the blatant hostility of candidate X toward Catholic social teaching because we might lose our tax-exempt status.”
The same excuse has been used to avoid the controversial arena of politics altogether. The true fact of the matter is that in the run-up to hugely consequential elections, many parishes have been afraid even to touch the subject, let alone to urge their parishioners to register to vote, to form their consciences properly, and to encourage them to vote.
Those days are over.
The Church must and will always remain a shepherd of souls. But politics is not only unavoidable, participation in it helps us spread the leaven of the Gospel teaching in society. Every election implicates Catholic moral teaching, and the lives and livelihoods of every Catholic citizen, school, charity, and institution.
While some will worry that this will instrumentalize or diminish the role of priests or parishes, we believe the opposite is true.
Catholics are seeking bold and faithful leadership.
We need more honest, faithful guidance about what we believe and how it applies to politics.
We need more honest and objective talk on candidates and where they stand.
We need more leadership from our priests and bishops in calling Catholics to help lead the way and uphold what we believe.
No need for rants, shaming, or hand wringing – or even direct endorsements.
Just boldly tell the good news.