Donald Trump made some very specific promises to the Religious Right in his 2016 campaign. Nominating an anti-choice judge to the Supreme Court was one, and demolishing the Johnson Amendment was another. The Johnson Amendment, passed in 1954, prevents churches and other tax-exempt nonprofit organizations from spending their money to support or attack political candidates. If wealthy special interests are able to pour tax-exempt money into our elections through churches and religious nonprofits, the impact on the amount of money in politics could be like a second Citizens United.
Despite what Religious Right leaders and Trump say, the Johnson Amendment is a crucial tool that protects religious liberty. Rather than allowing religious institutions to exercise more free speech, repealing this amendment will turn churches into political pawns, divide congregations, and ultimately negate the reason that houses of worship are tax-exempt -- to support community and faith.
Tell Congress: Don’t destroy the Johnson Amendment!
