VirtueOnline: News

Senate bill attacks free speech of churches, pro-family groups One of the provisions of S. 1 now being considered by the Senate would require churches and other nonprofits, classified as "grassroots lobbying firms," to report to the House and Senate any time they spend money to communicate to their constituents on public-policy issues that are before Congress. Failure to comply could result in thousands of dollars in fines and even criminal penalties. "This is one of the most significant violations of free exercise of religion and the freedom of political speech in our nation's history," Jay Sekulow, chief counsel for the American Center for Law and Justice, wrote in a column posted on the ACLJ website. "Some have said that this plan is the most comprehensive regulation of political speech that has ever been put forward by Congress."