Victory for Religious Organizations and the Constitution

Defeat of Amendment Is a Victory for Free Speech

WASHINGTON, May 18, 2007—“Most Americans clearly understand that lobbying reform does not translate to threatening the constitutional freedoms that permit Christians to speak out on issues that matter most.”
—Jay Sekulow, ACLJ chief counsel

Despite pressure from opponents, religious free speech has prevailed this week in Congress. Troubling language that would have made it extremely difficult for churches and non-profit organizations to speak out on the cultural and political issues of the day has been removed from a House measure focusing on lobbying reform. The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), the nation's top conservative public interest law firm, calls the removal "an important free speech victory for churches and non-profit organizations."

"The troubling language would have put an extreme burden on churches and non-profit organizations, effectively making it difficult and in some cases impossible to exercise their First Amendment rights," said Jay Sekulow, chief counsel of the ACLJ. "We heard from more than 180,000 Americans who wanted this provision removed and we're delighted that it has been defeated. We stand ready to meet any further challenge should Congressman Meehan attempt to reintroduce this troubling amendment on the House floor when the lobbying reform bill is considered next week. We will vigorously oppose such a move if it occurs."

In the House Judiciary Committee yesterday, an amendment offered by Rep. Martin T. Meehan (Mass.) was defeated-an amendment that would have subjected those who conducted grassroots mail and telephone campaigns to government regulation and required the reporting of detailed information. 

The ACLJ has been active in challenging the provision and worked to defeat similar language in a Senate version of the bill earlier this year. In challenging the Meehan Amendment, the ACLJ received tremendous support for its Petition of Protest-opposing the measure-via the ACLJ Web site, email, direct mail, and phones.

Led by Chief Counsel 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.

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