Anti-Defamation League Deems "Safe Harbor" Provision Unconstitutional

June 9, 2004

Source: Anti-Defamation League Press Release

http://www.adl.org/PresRele/RelChStSep_90/4510_90.htm

On June 9, 2004 Anti-Defamation League Press Release reported, "A measure under consideration in Congress that would enable churches, synagogues and other houses of worship to make political endorsements is 'unconstitutional, unnecessary and bad public policy,' the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) said today in a letter to members of the House Ways & Means Committee. ADL urged committee members to strip the 'Safe Harbor for Churches' provision from the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004, saying the proposed amendment, which would create significant loopholes to 501(c) (3) political-campaign restrictions for houses of worship and their clergy, [and] violates the Constitutional mandate of church-state separation. In a letter to members of the Ways & Means Committee, ADL pointed out that the legislation is similar to a previous bill defeated in the House in October 2002."

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