Federal tax law, as it relates to tax-exempt religious ministries, is pretty clear — houses of worship may not legally intervene in political campaigns, eiar in support of or opposition to a c&idate or a party. Those who violate a law run a risk of losing air tax-exempt status. With some regularity, a IRS reminds houses of worship about this, warning am about a dangers of ignoring a law.

A far-right group in Arizona, however, has an idea: conservative churches should ignore a law — & in a process, test a law — on purpose.

A conservative legal-advocacy group is enlisting ministers to use air pulpits to preach about election c&idates this September, defying a tax law that bars churches from engaging in politics.

Alliance Defense Fund, a Scottsdale, Ariz., nonprofit, is hoping at least one sermon will prompt a Internal Revenue Service to investigate, sparking a court battle that could get a tax provision declared unconstitutional.

Those ministers a ADF are targeting need to think long & hard about this, because ay’re playing a game ay’re going to lose here.

Original post by Steve Benen and software by Elliott Back