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Trump Vows to ‘Destroy’ Law Banning Political Activity by Churches

Revoltingest

Pragmatic Libertarian
Premium Member
I can't imagine why you think this is even possible.
Trump has a bunch of debts to pay, from evangelical Christians to Putin. This is just a downpayment.
You actually have hope that Trump will impose taxes on Christian clubs, given the sort of people who voted for him?
Tom
A guy can hope!
 

columbus

yawn <ignore> yawn
You are indeed an odd duck.
I'm glad to be normal & conventional.
Considers Hillary Clinton to have been the conservative option in 2016. Wants to shrink the government too small to enforce religious marriage limitations. Wants to stop Trump from trashing basic American values at almost any cost. Believes in balanced budgets even if that means higher taxes.

Are your pants off yet?
Tom
 

Neo Deist

Th.D. & D.Div. h.c.
Considers Hillary Clinton to have been the conservative option in 2016. Wants to shrink the government too small to enforce religious marriage limitations. Wants to stop Trump from trashing basic American values at almost any cost. Believes in balanced budgets even if that means higher taxes.

Are your pants off yet?
Tom

Who has time to wear pants?
 

Revoltingest

Pragmatic Libertarian
Premium Member
Considers Hillary Clinton to have been the conservative option in 2016. Wants to shrink the government too small to enforce religious marriage limitations. Wants to stop Trump from trashing basic American values at almost any cost. Believes in balanced budgets even if that means higher taxes.

Are your pants off yet?
Tom
I'm now padlocking me zipper!
 

Jeremiahcp

Well-Known Jerk
Trump Vows to ‘Destroy’ Law Banning Political Activity by Churches

Churches were taxed by the Federal government before the Johnson Amendment in 1954. Johnson worked out a deal -- unwise, in my opinion -- that churches would not be taxed if they did not engage in political endorsements. In recent years, this agreement has been dishonored by the Religious Right, who want tax exempt status along with the right to make political endorsements.

Johnson should have seen -- as clearly as his conservative rival Goldwater did -- that you cannot trust the Religious Right to be honorable. Goldwater condemned the Religious Right as fanatics who refused to compromise, and it's arguable that he would never have been so foolish as to attempt to cut a deal with them. Now Trump, catering to the Religious Right, wants to overturn the compromise, but while allowing the churches to keep their tax exempt status.

Your thoughts? Rants?

He can't do away with the Johnson Amendment, that would take an act of Congress. The most Trump can do is make it so the law is not enforced; however, it is not fully enforced right now anyways. I think the main concern is funneling campaign contributions as a charitable donation through the church. As it is now, the government really does not care if some preacher is supporting a political candidate from their sermons.

It is a non-issue that Trump is trying to make an issue; it is just a diversion. But I do find his proclaimed defense for freedom of religion hypocritical considering his Muslim ban.
 

Jeremiahcp

Well-Known Jerk
I think Trump is still butt hurt over the Pope saying he was un-Christian and now he is trying to score points with the Christians.
 

habiru

Active Member
Most of these T.V. Evangelist has to pay Air-time to be on International Television. It cost a lot to aired their programs throughout the world in each cities or towns. And some of them has outrageously big auditoriums that they had built for themselves and some rented them. But I remember way back in the days, that Billy Graham ministry was making over millions of dollars. But he said that he will only take $80,000 dollars a year for his service. It is the broadcasting networks that are taking most of the money. But some T.V. preachers are taking a lot but not giving it back into the communities.

But honestly... Who can refuse to give this preacher everything that you own? Sitting down and listening to him is worth all the money in the world.

 

Nous

Well-Known Member
Premium Member
I think it's a super-excellent idea to remove churchs' tax-exemption and allow them to engage in all the political endorsements they desire--which is what they do anyway.
 

Terrywoodenpic

Oldest Heretic
Perhaps all church income should be taxed, but get a rebate on all audited money spent on charitable work. The rebate going directly in to the ring fenced charitable account. So it become additional to the charitable spend, not into anyones pockets.
 
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