ため used to give reason?


So I came across this sentence:

> 政府が情報を厳しくチェックしているため、事件のことをみんなの前で話すことができません。

I'm familiar with ために and のため, but it's the first time I see ため used like
this. From my understanding, in this sentence it's used to give a reason here
just like から/ので. What is the difference, and can you just replace it with
から/ので?

