Posted on 09/17/2020 5:45:33 PM PDT by marshmallow
DETROIT, Michigan, September 16, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — Trey Traynor, chairman of the Federal Election Commission, has reaffirmed that non-profits, including churches and religious leaders, “can absolutely engage” in political speech, like endorsing candidates and hosting them on church property.
Traynor referred to a little-known executive order signed by President Donald Trump on May 4, 2017, less than four months into his presidency.
“All executive departments and agencies ... shall, to the greatest extent practicable and to the extent permitted by law, respect and protect the freedom of persons and organizations to engage in religious and political speech,” Trump wrote at the time.
“In particular, the Secretary of the Treasury shall ensure, to the extent permitted by law, that the Department of the Treasury does not take any adverse action against any individual, house of worship, or other religious organization on the basis that such individual or organization speaks or has spoken about moral or political issues from a religious perspective.”
Trump specifically mentioned “the imposition of any tax or tax penalty,” as well as “the delay or denial of tax-exempt status; the disallowance of tax deductions for contributions made to entities exempted from taxation under section 501(c)(3) of title 26, United States Code; or any other action that makes unavailable or denies any tax deduction, exemption, credit, or benefit,” as going against his executive order.
Ryan T. Anderson, William E. Simon Senior Research Fellow in American Principles & Public Policy at The Heritage Foundation, at the time criticized the executive order as being “rather weak.”
“All it includes is general language about the importance of religious liberty, saying the executive branch ‘will honor and enforce’ existing laws and instructing the Department of Justice to ‘issue guidance’ on existing law; directives to the Department of the Treasury to be........
(Excerpt) Read more at lifesitenews.com ...
Authentic religious congregations should be endorsing Donald Trump.
Leftist groups masquerading as religious congregations will endorse Joe BidenBLMAntifaCommunists.
Washington will always be the best President.
Trump is making an amazing run at being the second best.
Good to know.
“’Authentic religious congregations”
These are getting scarce.
Why are things so messed up in America? Take a look. . .https://www.newsweek.com/52-percent-americans-say-jesus-isnt-not-god-was-great-teacher-survey-says-1528617
The Constitution allows religious participation in the government. It does not allow government interference in religion. The so-called “separation” is not equal. Never has been.
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