The Churches and Legislative Advocacy

Throughout American history, church groups have sought to influence public policy, sometimes quite successfully. Their general right to do so is respected by the courts, but indirect challenges persist on the popular level and as a by-product of tax exemption regulations and lobby disclosure legislation. In democratic political theory, this right of churches is grounded in the right of all citizens to be respected as sovereign and to exercise their sovereignty either individually or in groups. Religious freedom points in particular to the transcendence of persons as citizens above the state, and it requires opportunity for political expression. The right of church legislative advocacy is limited by respect for the rights of others and by the requirement that all public policy enactments reflect a primary secular purpose, that is, that they do not depend for their rationale upon theological beliefs peculiar to particular religious groups. Churches in fact make important public contributions through legislative advocacy and the state should encourage, not discourage, it. While the churches themselves differ on this, the broad mainstream of Judeo-Christian tradition is deeply supportive of this activity, provided it is pursued with wisdom and restraint.