religion and politics

Public schools would have to display Ten Commandments under bill passed by Texas Senate

By Brian Lopez April 20, 2023

The Senate also passed a bill that would set prayer and Bible reading times during the school day. Full Story

Credit: Ariel Min/The Texas Tribune
Quran taken from Texas Capitol chapel recovered by state police. They aren’t saying who removed it.

By Alexa Ura April 4, 2023

Days after it went missing, DPS identified the person who removed a family Quran Rep. Salman Bhojani had placed in the chapel. The state has since provided its own copy. Full Story

Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune
These 20 churches supported political candidates. Experts say they violated federal law.

By Jessica Priest and Jeremy Schwartz, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica, and Chris Morran, ProPublica Nov. 7, 2022

Churches aren’t supposed to endorse political candidates, according to IRS rules. Across the country, churches appear to be doing so anyway. Full Story

Credit: Video editing by Gerardo del Valle/ProPublica. Source videos: Cowboy Church of Corsicana, Mercy Culture, KingdomLife, Friendship-West Baptist Church, Sojourn Church, Beth Sar Shalom, Abundant Life Church, Unite Church, Legacy Church.
Texas churches violated tax law ahead of Tuesday’s election, experts say

By Jeremy Schwartz, Jessica Priest and Perla Trevizo, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica Nov. 6, 2022

Churches in Texas invited Beto O’Rourke and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick to speak to their congregations before the 2022 midterms, raising questions about the effectiveness of the Johnson Amendment. Full Story

Credit: Juanjo Gasull for ProPublica/The Texas Tribune
Churches are breaking the law and endorsing in elections, experts say. The IRS looks the other way.

By Jeremy Schwartz and Jessica Priest, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica Oct. 30, 2022

For nearly 70 years, federal law has barred churches from directly involving themselves in political campaigns, but the IRS has largely abdicated its enforcement responsibilities as churches have become more brazen about publicly backing candidates. Full Story
Tell us how religious organizations in your area involve themselves in elections

By Jessica Priest and Jeremy Schwartz, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica Oct. 30, 2022

Federal law bars churches and other nonprofit groups from endorsing candidates or helping to fundraise, but we know they regularly sidestep — or flat-out ignore — these rules. Help us identify examples. Full Story

Credit: Juanjo Gasull for The Texas Tribune/ProPublica

Public schools would have to display Ten Commandments under bill passed by Texas Senate

Quran taken from Texas Capitol chapel recovered by state police. They aren’t saying who removed it.

These 20 churches supported political candidates. Experts say they violated federal law.

Texas churches violated tax law ahead of Tuesday’s election, experts say

Churches are breaking the law and endorsing in elections, experts say. The IRS looks the other way.

Tell us how religious organizations in your area involve themselves in elections