May 2017 Church & State - May 2016

Groups Tell Congress To Oppose Church Politicking

  AU admin

Americans United joined a coalition of 4,500 national, state and local groups that on April 5 sent a letter to congressional leaders advising them to leave intact a federal law that bars tax-exempt, non-profit groups, including houses of worship, from intervening in partisan politics.

“Nonpartisanship is a cornerstone principle that has strengthened the public’s trust of the charitable community,” asserted the letter. “In exchange for enjoying tax-exempt status and the ability to receive tax-deductible contributions, 501(c)(3) organizations – charitable nonprofits, including religious congregations, and foundations – agree to not engage in ‘any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office.’”

One day earlier, nearly 100 religious and denominational organizations sent a similar letter to congressional leaders urging them not to repeal or weaken the law, which is known as the Johnson Amendment.

President Donald J. Trump has repeatedly promised to “destroy” the Johnson Amendment and stated that repealing it would be his “greatest contribution to Christianity.”

But the Christian, Muslim, Jewish and other religious groups that signed the April 4 letter argue that the law protects the integrity of houses of worship and prevents divisiveness within the religious community.

“Houses of worship are spaces for members of religious communities to come together, not be divided along political lines; faith ought to be a source of connection and community, not division and discord,” the letter read.

BREAKING NEWS

Americans United & the National Women’s Law Center file suit to challenge Missouri’s abortion bans.

Abortion bans violate the separation of church and state. Americans United and the National Women’s Law Center—the leading experts in religious freedom and gender justice—have joined forces with thirteen clergy from six faith traditions to challenge Missouri’s abortion bans as unconstitutionally imposing one narrow religious doctrine on everyone.


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