Posted on 02/02/2017 12:32:26 PM PST by markomalley
President Trump once again vowed to repeal the Johnson Amendment Thursday morning at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington.
The president said he would “totally destroy” the federal tax law from 1945 that prevents tax-exempt groups, like churches, from endorsing or opposing political candidates.
“Jefferson asked, ‘Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are the gift of God?’ Among those freedoms is the right to worship according to our own beliefs,” Trump told the audience. “I will get rid of and totally destroy the Johnson Amendment and allow our representatives of faith to speak freely and without fear of retribution.”
“I want to express clearly today to the American people that my administration will do everything in its power to defend and protect religious liberty in our land,” he continued.
“Freedom of religion is a sacred right, but it is under serious threat.”
During his acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention in July, Trump brought up the Johnson Amendment while thanking the “evangelical and religious community” for their support.
“You have so much to contribute to our politics, yet our laws prevent you from speaking your minds from your own pulpits,” Trump said at the time.
“An amendment, pushed by Lyndon Johnson, many years ago, threatens religious institutions with a loss of their tax-exempt status if they openly advocate their political views.”
“I am going to work very hard to repeal that language and protect free speech for all Americans. We can accomplish these great things, and so much else – all we need to do is start believing in ourselves and in our country again. It is time to show the whole world that America is back.”
The law never applied to black churches or mosques, so why not let everyone ignore it?
Let freedom ring. Thank you President Trump!
AMEN!
It should apply to all or none. Had this foolishness been in place in the 19th century you would never have had the churches standing up against slavery and the abolitionist movement the way it ways.
The left talks a good game on freedom and free speech but when push comes to shove they will shut you up faster than an NKVD agent with brass knuckles.
Bookmarked under... Winning!
MAGA!
Just checked various enemedia outlets. Whoa. If folks thought heads were exploding before, you ain’t seen nuthin’ yet!!! Today’s freakout is about the Johnson Amendment being repealed. Mission accomplished, eh?
Just end tax free status for everyone.
IIRC, didn’t even the Pope give a subtle tip of his zucchetto to the she beast this past election?
That would be huge.
I think this is huge. The churches have always been the moral compass of our nation.
The amendment only applied to whites anyway. Black churches routinely sponsor political events, and endorse political candidates. The time is long overdue to end the discrimination.
Just end tax free status for everyone.
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That’s what I thought as well.The churches have kept their
mouths shut to keep their tax exempt status.
Marko
Will this allow Mosques the same privilege?
Not being controversial, just curious.
Ending all "non-profit" status is a great idea. Let people donate to churches and charities freely instead of having their money (taxes) taken under pain of going to jail.
It is not if the corporation is not for profit,
it is the tax deductibility of the contribution to that
corporation. Eliminate the charitable deductibility which
is actually a federal subsidiarity of what would have been paid as income tax.
yugh
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