Thursday, September 9, 2004 PRESS RELEASE
Contact: James Bopp, Jr., General Counsel
Phone 812/232-2434; Fax 812/235-3685
The James Madison Center for Free Speech, in association with the Alliance
Defense Fund, proudly announces that it will offer free legal advice to
churches, pastors and priests on how to speak about the great social and moral
issues of our day without risking the loss of their church’s tax exempt status.
In addition, they have prepared a free guide summarizing the various activities
that are allowed under the Internal Revenue Code and the Federal Election
Campaign Act.
The problem addressed by these guidelines is illustrated when, on the one
hand, people of faith who speak about moral issues in public are accused of
attempting to force their religion upon others; and when, on the other hand,
they address moral issues in church, they are accused of engaging in politics.
The need for these guidelines has greatly increased as the 2004 elections move
closer and various groups have again engaged in intimidation tactics designed to
silence churches, pastors and priests by sending "spies" into congregations to
gather information and report any perceived infraction to the IRS.
According to James Bopp, Jr., General Counsel for the James Madison Center
for Free Speech, "The best defense is to know your rights. That’s why the
Madison Center has teamed with the Alliance Defense Fund to both publish these
guidelines and offer free legal advice to churches and their pastors and priests
on this important topic."
Further, Alliance Defense Fund President Alan Sears stated "We’re excited
about working with the James Madison Center on this profoundly important issue.
We must prevent the churches from being censored or chilled from speaking out on
the great moral issues of the day."
Contact information and copies of the guidelines are available at
