by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief
(Worthy News) – A federal judge in Texas has rejected a proposed agreement between the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and several Christian ministries that would have limited enforcement of restrictions on political speech from the pulpit—marking a significant moment in the ongoing debate over religious liberty and free expression.
In National Religious Broadcasters et al. v. Scott Bessent et al., U.S. District Judge J. Campbell Barker ruled Tuesday that the court lacked jurisdiction to approve the agreement, citing longstanding federal statutes including the Tax Anti-Injunction Act and the Declaratory Judgment Act.
The case centers on the Johnson Amendment, a 1954 provision that prohibits tax-exempt nonprofit organizations, including churches, from endorsing political candidates. Christian groups have increasingly challenged the law, arguing it places an unconstitutional burden on pastors and ministries seeking to address moral and civic issues from a biblical perspective.
Judge Barker emphasized that even though both the IRS and the plaintiffs supported the agreement, jurisdiction cannot be established by mutual consent. He noted that federal courts are barred from granting relief in matters directly tied to tax enforcement.
The plaintiffs—including National Religious Broadcasters and several churches—had sought to block enforcement of the Johnson Amendment, asserting that it infringes on First Amendment rights. While the IRS had previously indicated it would not penalize churches for certain political expressions, the court declined to formalize that position.
Reaction from conservative Christian leaders was swift. Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, criticized the ruling, calling it a missed opportunity to defend religious freedom during a milestone year in American history. He confirmed that the plaintiffs intend to appeal the decision to the Fifth Circuit.
On the other side, Rachel Laser of Americans United for Separation of Church and State praised the ruling, arguing it preserves the integrity of nonprofit tax law and prevents politicization of religious institutions.
For many faith leaders, the case highlights a deeper concern: whether churches can speak freely on issues of national importance without fear of government reprisal. As the legal battle heads toward appeal, it is likely to remain a defining issue at the intersection of faith, law, and the future of free speech in America.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
Latest News from Worthy News
Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem said an agreement between Iran and the United States may be the best path to ending Israeli military operations in Lebanon, while defiantly rejecting any outside demand that the Iranian-backed terrorist group disarm.
U.S. federal prosecutors announced criminal charges Tuesday against the operator of the cargo ship that struck and destroyed Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge in 2024, killing six construction workers.
Inflation increased 0.6% in April, with an overall rate of 3.8% over the last 12 months, according to new data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
More than two years after the deadliest terrorist attack in Israel’s history, the Knesset has approved legislation establishing a special military tribunal to prosecute terrorists accused of participating in the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, massacre.
The United States has been holding regular negotiations with Denmark and Greenland to expand America’s military presence on the strategic Arctic island, according to the BBC citing multiple officials familiar with the talks.
Federal authorities have charged more than 25 members and associates of Tren de Aragua, the violent Venezuelan-born criminal network recently designated by the Trump administration as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, in a sweeping nationwide crackdown aimed at dismantling the gang’s expanding footprint inside the United States.
The United Arab Emirates has carried out military strikes directly on Iranian soil, according to an exclusive report by The Wall Street Journal — a revelation that marks a seismic shift in the Persian Gulf balance of power and places a major Arab Gulf monarchy squarely in the role of active combatant against the Islamic Republic of Iran.