October 7 is Pulpit Freedom Sunday, when hundreds of pastors are expected to openly violate the law of the land and preach politics from the pulpit. The law they intend to violate is known as the Johnson Amendment. Enacted in 1954 and sponsored by then-Senator Lyndon B. Johnson, it limits the amount of political activity churches, charities and any other 501(c)3 non-profit organizations may engage in while claiming tax-exempt status.
In 2008, when Pulpit Freedom Sunday began, 33 pastors participated; last year, organizers said the number swelled to 539. Who knows how many more will join the call in this partisan-charged year? Just in the last few weeks, a Catholic priest in Texas told his parishioners in writing not to reelect President Obama, while priests in Wisconsin are holding weekly "rosary rallies" to pray for GOP vice presidential candidate and native son Paul Ryan.
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