The IRS veered away from banning political endorsements in houses of worship, spurring differing views from Houston's religious leaders.

The new IRS interpretation came after decades of debate and, most recently, lawsuits from the National Religious Broadcasters association and other conservative churches complaining that the amendment violates their First Amendment rights, among other legal protections.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday welcomed the Internal Revenue Service's decision that houses of worship could endorse political candidates to their congregations without risking losing their status as tax-exempt nonprofits.