Why Donald Trump Is Right – And Brave – To Get Rid Of The Johnson Amendment

When the Archbishop of Canterbury Robert Runcie asked worshippers at St Paul’s Cathedral in a service intended to mark Britain’s victory in the Falklands War to pray for the dead of both sides, the right wing erupted in fury.

His sermon was seen as meddling in politics and an attack on Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

If Britain had its own Johnson Amendment, and the sermon had been during an election campaign, would he have risked in that single sermon the loss of the tax exempt status of the entire Church of England? That would have been some sweet revenge by Thatcher.

It seems incredible that in a country such as the United States, that has made freedom of speech a cornerstone of its constitution, clergy are inhibited in what they can say about politics from the puplit.

Britain has its own rules regarding campaigning and political activity by charities. But in the UK, these rules are not objected to by church leader

In the US, evangelicals believe strongly that the restrictions are an unjust inhibition on freedom of speech.

It was in 1954 that Congress amended – without any debate – the Internal Revenue Code. This means that non-profit organisations, including churches, risk losing their tax-exempt status if they preach politics from the pulpit during an election campaign.

Trump recognises this. His promise to rescind the amendment, made at a private meeting with evangelical Christian leaders during the campaign, is among the main reasons he won their vote.

Read here