"If a minister stands up in his own pulpit and endorses a candidate, and the only people who can hear him are those sitting in the pews, I'd say, fine, that ought to be allowed: it's protected free speech."


He/she CAN do so, but to use property/buildings/equipment that has been treated as TAX-FREE for such a purpose is the problem. Let him/her go off Church property, and rent space like any othe taxable group.