At times, it’s best to leave things alone

On April 4, 2017, a coalition of 99 faith groups sent a letter to the leaders of both the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives requesting them NOT to change the existing IRS code that prevents not-for-profit organizations from endorsing political candidates.

Under the present IRS code, churches are allowed to speak to the whole range of political issues. Churches are completely free to speak to moral issues that confront the nation. Without fear of reprisal or penalty, churches can use church funds to carry out their moral agenda. Good examples in recent year are the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in their efforts to repeal Roe vs Wade and make abortions illegal in the United States. They are totally within their legal rights. They and other religious organizations have protected rights to carrying on their deeply held convictions about abortion. However, since the administration of President Lyndon Johnson, all religious organizations and other corporations with 501 c 3 tax exemption have been barred from endorsing a political candidate. Clergy and other religious leaders can speak, write and give money in support of particular candidates as individuals but can never do so as the spokesperson for a 501 c 3 tax exempt organization. The amendment of the tax code commonly called “the Johnson Amendment” has been court tested several times and has always been upheld

The Johnson Amendment prevents the pulpits of America from being politicized. As a secular nation of law, the United States is dependent upon people of religious conviction to speak TRUTH to power. The United States was the first nation in the world to establish a working relationship between a religious population and a secular state based on law. We have done well. Churches have thrived, and government has functioned amazing well. The 99 religious organization who signed the letter to congressional leaders are saying that what we Americans have done and are doing is working very well. Leave things the way they now are.

One day after the letter from religious leaders was sent to their government leaders (April 5, 2017), 4,500 non-religious 501 c 3 organizations delivered a similar letter to Congressional leaders with a similar message. DO NOT MESS WITH THE LAW. IT IS WORKING VERY WELL.

On May 3, 2017, President Donald Trump signed an executive order titled “Promoting Free Speech and Religious Liberty.”

I am an ordained clergyperson of the American Baptist Churches USA. Baptists have a long history of promoting separation of church and state. In America Baptist involvement dates back to Roger Williams and the establishment of the State of Rhode Island. We Baptists, though small in number, had a powerful influence that resulted in the inclusion of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Religion free from government intrusion has been the law of the land from day one. Fifteen Baptist organizations in the United States together maintain a powerful lobby in Washington DC. The Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Freedom, I believe, is the most powerful lobby in Washington solely for the protection of religious freedom.

The response of The Baptist Joint Committee was immediate. Trump’s executive order “Promoting Free Speech and Religious Liberty” does not promote either. BJC Executive Director Amanda Tyler added “Worse, it is further evidence that President Trump wants churches to be vehicles for political campaigns. Americans think changing the tax law to encourage churches to endorse and oppose political candidates with tax-deductible contributions is a bad idea…..the vast majority of congregants and clergy from all religious groups oppose candidate endorsements in their houses of worship. Pastors will continue to SPEAK TRUTH TO POWER and PREACH ON MORAL ISSUES, no matter how controversial. They do not need a change in tax law to it.”

Ms. Tyler added “Getting rid of the protection in the law that insulates 501 c 3 Organizations from candidates pressing for endorsements would destroy our congregations and charities from within over disagreements on partisan campaigns.”

I suspect that Mr. Trump’s executive order will not stand the test of law and will be overturned by a Federal judge. I will rejoice! Some things are best left alone. This is one of them.

The Rev. Howard Bess is a retired American Baptist minister who lives in Palmer. His email address is hdbss@mtaonline.net