ACLJ Launches Campaign Challenging Bills that Restrict Free Speech Rights of Pastors, and Churches

"This is a very troubling development that could drastically affect the mission and operation of churches and non-profit organizations." -Jay Sekulow, ACLJ Chief Counsel

WASHINGTON, Jan. 16, 2007—The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) announced today that it is launching a nationwide campaign to oppose legislation on Capitol Hill that would dramatically limit the free speech rights of churches and other nonprofit organizations.
 
The two measures being considered by both the House and Senate (H.R. 4682 and S.1) would make churches and nonprofit organizations subject to harsh government regulation by classifying them as "grassroots lobbying firms."
 
"This legislation being pushed by House and Senate leadership would place severe restrictions on the free speech of pastors and others who communicate about the moral and political issues of the day," said Jay Sekulow, chief counsel of the ACLJ. "By classifying them as ‘grassroots lobbying firms,' the churches and non-profit organizations would be under a tremendous burden by being forced to register and report to the federal government. This is bad legislation that could become bad law. We are mobilizing on several fronts to challenge these bills."
 
The ACLJ is launching a nationwide petition campaign, utilizing email, radio, television, and the ACLJ Web site to urge House and Senate leadership to reject this legislation.
 
At the same time, Sekulow says the ACLJ supports a newly introduced amendment to the Senate bill (Amendment 20 to S.1) that would eliminate provisions dealing with grassroots lobbying firms and ensure that churches and many other public interest organizations and individuals would not be subject to lobbying regulations.
 
The ACLJ has produced a legal analysis (posted online at www.aclj.org) that details the dangers of this legislation. In addition to battling the legislation in Congress, the ACLJ is preparing to take legal action challenging these measures should they become law.
 
"This is a critically important issue that simply cannot be ignored," said Sekulow. "We are confident that Americans will stand with us in large numbers in making it clear to the House and Senate leadership that this legislation is unacceptable."
 
Led by Jay Sekulow, the American Center for Law and Justice specializes in constitutional law and focuses on religious liberty litigation. The ACLJ is based in Washington, D.C. and is online at www.aclj.org. The ACLJ online newsroom can be accessed at www.DeMossNewsPond.com/ACLJ. 

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