Plan to Let Clergy Back Candidates Is Rejected

WASHINGTON--The House rejected a bill Wednesday that would have let religious leaders endorse political candidates without endangering their organization’s tax-exempt status.

The bill, which caused splits among religious groups and inside the Republican Party, was defeated 239 to 178. Forty-six Republicans joined with Democrats to defeat the bill. Its main sponsor, Rep. Walter B. Jones (R-N.C.), told lawmakers he will try again next year.

The legislation would have removed a rule adopted by Congress in 1954 that bans churches and other tax-exempt groups from engaging in partisan politics. Under current law, clergy are free to speak out on moral issues and conduct voter registration drives, but churches cannot endorse individual candidates if they want to keep their tax exemptions.

“This debate was long overdue,” Jones said. “We’ve raised the flag on this issue, and that was my goal.”

Defending the bill, Rep. Philip M. Crane (R-Ill.) said: “Religious organizations are the moral compass for tens of millions of Americans, and I have no qualms about their leaders articulating the pros and cons of a particular candidate for office.”

But Rep. Christopher Shays (R-Conn.) said the bill would “erode the separation of church and state, a bedrock value of our nation,” and probably enable big-money donors to funnel funds through churches.

Another opponent, Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), said the bill would lead to a situation in which “you could have a minister coming into a pulpit and saying vote for so and so because God told me.”

The bill was supported by such groups as the Christian Coalition, the Family Research Council and the Assn. of Christian Schools International, but was opposed by other religious organizations.