CHRISTIAN NEWS: IRS Affirms Right of Pastors to Engage in Some Political Activities

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May 14, 2009

The Christian Post

A Houston-based non-profit foundation that funded a series of pastors conferences in 2006 ahead of Gov. Rick Perry's re-election did not violate any tax laws and can thus keep its tax-exempt status, the Internal Revenue Service recently ruled. 

"This liberal attempt to intimidate pastors has backfired," said Kelly Shackelford, chief counsel of Liberty Legal Institute which represented organizers of the conferences, in a statement Tuesday. "There is now a clear IRS statement outlining these pastors' events and approving them as valid under the law."

The Texas Freedom Network, which monitors "far-right" issues and groups, had asked the IRS to investigate the Niemoller Foundation and its Texas Restoration Project conferences which drew thousands of pastors and featured Perry as a speaker.

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