Here's What Happened When Pam Bondi Found Out a DOJ Staffer Flipped Off...
Why the Libs' Red Flag Law Narrative Doesn't Work With the Minneapolis Shooter
Why a Former Rolling Stone Editor Called Out the NYT for Their Headline...
It's Happening: Missouri to Hold Special Session to Redraw Congressional Districts
Why Muriel Bowser Now Greatly Appreciates Trump's DC Takeover
Homan Reveals How Many of the Unaccompanied Children Lost Under Biden Have Been...
Newsom Accuses Trump of Using ICE to Intimidate Voters
Federal Appeals Court Rules Most of Trump’s Tariffs Illegal, Allows Appeal to Supreme...
The Plastics Treaty Failed—for the Right Reasons
Trump Wins Again...on the Economy
Labor Day Travelers Rejoice: Prices at the Pump Are Falling
Wisconsin Youth Sue State Over Climate Change
Trump: Removing Tariffs Would Be a ‘Total Disaster’
Feds Launch Trade Fraud Task Force
Grand Jury Indicts Canadian for Voter Fraud
Tipsheet

House Rep: 'Repealing the Johnson Amendment Will Politicize the Pulpit'

During the markup of the House GOP Tax Reform bill, an amendment was introduced to the committee by Rep. John Lewis (D-GA) to keep the Johnson Amendment as part of the U.S. tax code. The Johnson Amendment currently prevents 501(c)(3) organizations, organizations like churches that are tax exempt, from engaging in political activities.

Advertisement

Under the current House GOP Tax Reform bill, there is a provision that would repeal the Johnson Amendment. The Johnson Amendment, named after former President Lyndon B. Johnson, which became part of the tax code in 1954, does not allow 501(c)(3)s to endorse political candidates. Some Democrats fear what may become of America's religious institutions and country if the amendment were to be repealed. While some concerns may be justifiable, other fears are taken to ridiculous heights.

Rep. Ron Kind, a Democratic congressman from Wisconsin, advocated for the amendment to stay. Rep. Kind fears the repeal of the amendment as he says repealing "has the potential of tearing the very fabric of our communities."

Rep. Kind continued:

Repealing the Johnson Amendment will politicize the pulpit. It will create civil war in the pews. It will establish Republican and Democratic churches, and synagogues, and mosques overnight. We all know it. We all know how tribal and how polarized our political system is today. We are self-segregating way too much already; with who are we deciding to affiliate, what clubs we join, what family members we even like to hang out with these days given our political affiliation...

While some may agree with parts of Rep. Kind's sentiment, few may agree with his next statement.

Advertisement

To summarize his feelings on the repeal of the amendment, Rep. Kind said, "You politicize the pulpit, it's going to make the Sunni-Shia conflict in the Middle East look like a picnic."

Repealing the Johnson Amendment is going to result in political sectarian violence on a greater level than seen in the Middle East? The two sects of Islam, Sunni and Shia, have been slaughtering one another for centuries as the two ideologies compete for political power in countries throughout the Middle East. While Congressman Kind may disagree with repealing the Johnson Amendment, if it were to happen, he should have a little more faith in the American people. This rhetoric is fear mongering and, as he stated seconds earlier, may further polarize our political system.

Watch Rep. Kind's statement below.

Join the conversation as a VIP Member

Recommended

Trending on Townhall Videos