Law Newz: President Trump Signs ‘Religious Liberty’ Executive Order, Weakens Johnson Amendment
Those in favor of the Johnson Amendment believe that it was a necessary separation of church and state. “For decades, the charitable political activities prohibition has kept tax-exempt religious institutions focused on their religious missions, freeing them from the pressures associated with partisan political campaigns,” said Trevor Potter, president of the Campaign Legal Center. “The charitable political activities prohibition was adopted and has been supported on a bipartisan basis by administrations of both political parties since the 1950’s. Opening the door to a flood of unaccountable political money will undermine the ‘social welfare’ purpose of religious institutions.”