President Donald Trump has announced he will "get rid of and totally destroy" a 60-year-old rule that blocks tax-exempt religious groups from endorsing or opposing political candidates. The so-called Johnson amendment was introduced by then-Senator Lyndon B Johnson in 1954. It threatens churches and other religious institutions with the loss of their tax-exempt status should they overstep the mark. At the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington DC on Thursday Mr Trump said: "Jefferson asked, 'Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are the gift of God?' Among those freedoms is the right to worship according to our own beliefs. That is why I will get rid of and totally destroy the Johnson amendment and allow our representatives of faith to speak freely and without fear of retribution—I will do that." ... The declaration came as an apparent leaked draft of a new executive order set out how specific religious beliefs—reflecting conservative Christian social tenets—could become enshrined as executive policy. They include "the belief that marriage is or should be recognised as the union of one man and one woman, sexual relations are properly reserved for such a marriage, male and female and their equivalents refer to an individual’s immutable biological sex as objectively determined by anatomy, physiology, or genetics at or before birth, and that human life begins at conception and merits protection at all stages of life". The draft order seeks to protect the tax-exempt status of organisations that propound those beliefs, as well as to block "adverse action" against groups that discriminate, on religious grounds, in the provision of adoption and fostering services. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/w...freedom-separation-church-state-a7559421.html
Just when I thought I'd got jaded, he finds new ways to appall me! I guess that's why he's the Ratings Machine.
OK. I can understand your gripe. Is that everyone's gripe? Or does Rasta have a specific bone to pick? But, lets be honest. They already do play in politics.
Was that to me? I am not offended by Trump screwing, as long as all involved were consenting adults. I am offended by the hypocrisy of his now saying any business or federal office can discriminate against anyone who does what he did. I am far more offended by a proposed executive order that would eliminate all rights for gay, lesbian, bi and transgender people. All. Because if anyone can violate any time they feel like it, just by saying Jesus said to, the rights no longer exist. I am offended that under this proposed order a prospective employer can ask an applicant if she ever had an abortion, or ask an applicant if they live with someone to whom they are not married, or demand proof of birth gender. I am offended that a set of Christians now would have super-rights; they would be able to ignore laws the rest of the country would be obligated to follow. I am offended that Trump has no clue as to actual problems faced by the country and instead uses bigotry to take away rights. I am offended that Trump is doing everything he can to demonize some Americans and calls that making America great "again", because apparently America was not great when I had any civil rights (never had equal rights). I am offended that this mental child is incapable of understanding the United States Constitution, or simply chooses to disregard it. I am offended that in any situation he chooses exclusion and confrontation over conciliation and exclusion. I am offended that the President of the United States has white supremacist "neo" Nazi as his closest advisor.
My gripe is that we shouldn't be picking sides when it comes to religion. Our founding fathers believed in a clear separation of church and state. We're not a christian nation, we a nation that allows people to practice any religion they want.
His speech at the Sunday morning prayer meeting was disgusting....Apprentice ratings and beheading Christians in the middle east....he actually got excited talking about how they cut heads off......glad I don't go to that church
I am not arguing you. I asked Rasta why he was so offended and you jumped in and gave your opinion on the matter. I appreciated the dialogue, no need to get defensive brotha. But I will argue that religious places regardless of which religion, are already into politics. Maybe not directly so they can keep their tax-exempt status, but indirectly for sure.
No we don't. We don't want snake handlers and Mormons marrying 10 women. We thought we wanted that a long time ago. There should be a clear separation, we'll just tax any of them and if they can survive on their own merit good for them. We don't want Sharia law and we don't want women covering themselves from head to toe in public. What our Constitution says and what we want don't always align.
NFL teams do. It's the league itself that doesn't. Still...you're saying there should be no such thing as a tax exempt organization?
You are correct about the NFL, my bad. No, I'm talking about churches. I do think having a discussion on who should and shouldn't pay taxes would be a treat topic for a different thread.
We actually don't know if he does or doesn't pay taxes. And like @JFizzleRaider points out Trump did pay sales tax on his yacht and helicopter.
