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Church Electioneering Bill Headed For House Vote

A controversial bill to allow houses of worship to engage in partisan political activities is likely to face a vote in the House of Representatives in early September, according to sources on Capitol Hill.

Rep. Walter B. Jones' "Houses of Worship Political Speech Protection Act" (H.R. 2357) was drafted by attorneys with TV preacher Pat Robertson's American Center for Law and Justice and is being pushed aggressively by the Religious Right. The measure would change federal tax law to allow houses of worship to use personnel and resources to endorse or oppose candidates for public office.

Federal tax law currently forbids non-profit groups, including houses of worship, from intervening in partisan campaigns if they are tax exempt under Section 501 (c)(3) of the IRS Code. The Jones bill would lift that regulation - but only for houses of worship.

Washington observers say a vote could occur on the House floor as early as Sept. 4. Moreover, the Christian Coalition, an ardent supporter of the measure, issued an alert to its membership in July noting that Jones "has been promised a midSeptember vote" on his legislation.

The House vote is expected to be close. Jones' proposal has already garnered the backing of 128 co-sponsors, including high-ranking House officials such as Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-Texas), Majority Whip Tom DeLay (R-Texas), Deputy Majority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) and Republican Conference Chairman J.C. Watts (R-Okla.).

Americans United Executive Director Barry W. Lynn urged people to contact their House members and give their opinions on the measure.

Meanwhile, a companion bill to H.R. 2357 has been introduced in the Senate. On Aug. 1, Sens. Bob Smith (R-N.H.), Tim Hutchinson (R-Ark.) and Jesse Helms (R-N.C.) unveiled S. 2886 to change federal tax law to allow "churches and other houses of worship" to engage in partisan politicking.

House Committee Holds Hearing On School Vouchers

Moving quickly in light of the June 27 Supreme Court decision upholding voucher subsidies for religious schools, Republicans on the House of Representatives' Committee on Education and the Workforce convened a hearing July 23 on the future of so-called "school choice."

Most of the discussion centered on a bill sponsored by Rep. Dick Armey (R-Texas) that would establish a $45-million voucher program in the city of Washington, D.C. Armey testified before the committee, telling the members, "The tired arguments against school choice grow less and less relevant every year. Now, in light of the recent court approval, the time has come for the federal government to step up to the plate and take the lead in ushering the school choice movement into the 21st century."

Several Democrats on the committee seemed skeptical. Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.) called the plan "a very tricky effort" to divert money away from public schools. Miller said vouchers "would drill a major hole" in public school reform efforts.

Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-Calif.) rejected arguments that vouchers will help students in troubled public schools. She asserted that all students deserve quality public schools and said she opposes allowing private schools to "cherry pick a few children whose parents care enough about them to get down on their knees and beg" for vouchers.

Veterans' Administration Approves Gay Chaplains

The U.S. Veterans' Administration has approved the nation's only predominantly gay religious denomination to serve as a source of chaplains for use in hospitals and other VA facilities.

The Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC) said the application process lasted about nine months and the church encountered "no resistance whatsoever."

"This marks an historic step for MCC churches," said the Rev. Troy Perry, the Christian denomination's founder and moderator. "U.S. programs have long been hostile to gay-lesbian-bisexual-transgender service members and veterans, so this marks yet another positive step toward full equality for America's gay and lesbian citizens."

The VA's National Chaplain Center accepts chaplains from about 225 registered faith traditions.

Courts have traditionally upheld the constitutionality of military and hospital chaplains because armed forces personnel and hospital patients are unable to visit houses of worship independently.

Copyright Americans United for Separation of Church and State Sep 2002
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