"They use that to keep religion out of morals," says another pastor, Rev. Phil Ellsworth, who points out the church has historically always been involved in politics, using as examples the abolition of slavery, child labor laws and civil rights. "What some people call social issues, I call Bible. It's our job to be involved."

That's why Rev. Gonzalez said to his congregation on Pulpit Freedom Sunday, "I urge you not to vote for Barack Obama or any candidate that stands in the same positions and activities that the Lord condemns."

"The intimidation of churches by leftist groups using the IRS has grown to a point that ADF has no choice but to respond," Stanley said, explaining why ADF felt the need to sponsor the "Pulpit Freedom Sunday" campaign to challenge the Johnson Amendment. "The number of threats being reported to ADF is growing because of the aggressive campaign to unlawfully silence the church. "

This ban on pastors "has always troubled me" said Rev. John W. Yates, a clergyman in the shadows of Washington from nearby Falls Church VA. "I'm skeptical about the government's authority to dictate to the church in this way," he said. "There is a cultural elitism in America that would like to keep religion privately comforting but publicly irrelevant! But if our biblical faith does not inform and shape our thinking on public policy and guide us in whom to vote for, we are simply failing in our responsibility as followers of Christ. We won't always agree with one another, but it is unthinkable that followers of Christ wouldn't evaluate candidates' policies in light of the Word of God."

Prior to the ADF designated Sunday encouraging pastors to defy the ban on political endorsements by churches, Yates said he did not plan to break the law. "But I could envision a time arising when I would feel that I would be disobeying God not to speak .about some political issue or election."

Now we await the government's next move, will they persecute the pastors that had the courage to stand up to this tyranny? America is watching.