The Internal Revenue Service reversed course and granted tax-exempt status to a Christian group.
Christians Engaged, a Texas-based nonprofit group that encourages religious citizens to vote and get involved in politics, had its 501(c)(3) application denied by the IRS late last month after the federal organization determined the Bible’s “teachings are typically affiliated with” the GOP and its candidates. The decision was reversed following an appeal, conservative legal group First Liberty announced on Wednesday.
“This is truly great news for our client, as well as religious organizations and churches across America,” said Lea Patterson, an attorney for First Liberty Institute, in a statement. “We are grateful the IRS changed course to bring its decision into line with the Constitution and its own regulations.”
TOP REPUBLICANS PRESS IRS AFTER CHRISTIAN GROUP REJECTED FOR NONPROFIT STATUS
Bunni Pounds, president of Christians Engaged and former GOP congressional primary candidate, was pleased by the ruling and said she looks forward to advancing the group’s mission.
“I am incredibly thankful to the IRS for doing the right thing, and we look forward to continuing our mission of educating more followers of Jesus to pray for our nation and to be civically engaged,” she said. “When we stand up, our republic works for all Americans.”
A wave of backlash ensued after the IRS decided to disqualify the Christian group for tax-exempt status.
While Christians Engaged appealed the IRS ruling with the help of First Liberty Institute, top Republican lawmakers, including House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady of Texas and Rep. Mike Kelly of Pennsylvania, penned a letter to IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig demanding he turn over a trove of records related to groups that were and were not granted tax-exempt status.
Texas Sen. Ted Cruz lambasted the “Biden IRS” for being “politically weaponized” during its decision to deny Christians Engaged 501(c)(3) privileges.
“Sadly following in the footsteps of the Obama IRS, the Biden IRS was likewise politically weaponized when it indefensibly denied tax-exempt status to the Texas nonprofit organization Christians Engaged,” he said in a statement on Wednesday.
“Thankfully, under public scrutiny, the Biden administration was forced to change course; today’s reversal is a victory for our religious freedoms and for Americans of faith across our country,” the Lone Star State Republican added. “But the initial denial stands as a warning that if we don’t stand up for our liberties and fight to hold this administration accountable, the Biden administration is more than willing to use the IRS as a political weapon.”
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Similarly, Rep. Chip Roy of Texas congratulated the group for its victory.
“I am encouraged by the IRS’s decision to reverse course and grant Christians Engaged 501(c)(3) nonprofit status, and I congratulate Bunni Pounds and First Liberty on this hard fought victory for religious freedom,” he said in a statement.
The Washington Examiner reached out to the IRS for comment.
