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How about when actual candidates are actively involved and on the church property speaking?
Legally, that's quite OK.
Any 501c3, including a church, can host political speakers, since it comes under the heading of education/outreach, which is one of the purposes for granting an organization 501c3 status. That speaker is free to deliver a motivational speech or a "this is what I stand for" speech. As long as the candidate (or an official of the hosting organization, such as the pastor) avoids saying "therefore vote for bob", or "therefore, tell all your legislators to vote for bob's bill", it's perfectly OK.
Most people profoundly misunderstand what it means, legally, to be a 501c3 organization.
I'd prefer to see the Johnson amendment be amended to be more restrictive, not repealed.
Think about this - your conservative church operates under the very same IRS rules as Planned Parenthood. Who do you think gets the greatest tax benefit from the 501c3 rules - your church, or PP? Tax exemption is essentially a subsidy from the taxpayers. However much you rail against PP, if you support repeal of the Johnson amendment, PP will benefit by being able to engage in more direct political advocacy, and you will be subsidizing it.
If you are of the liberal persuasion, for PP, just substitute a large conservative organization that you don't agree with - the NRA, for instance.
Now I believe PP also has a 501c4 organization, and those organizations operate under different rules, which allow for more direct advocacy than do the rules for 501c3s. Keep in mind that the Johnson amendment only applies to 501c3s.
Even worse in my opinion is you would have say the "Church of Trump 2020" whose sole existence would be to allow political contributions to be tax deductible.
Vote Republican, or face the judgment of the Lord!
Of course most bible believing churches would not go to any extremes, but some certainly would, especially if they need the cash.
"The law prohibits churches from engaging in political activity,"
Considering how many churches DO engage in political activity, why have a law that is not enforced?
It IS enforced. It isn't political activity in general that is prohibited. It is electioneering that is prohibited. Electioneering is urging someone to take action by voting. As long as there is no call to vote - "vote for bob" or "vote for bob's bill" or "tell X to vote for bob" or "tell X to vote for bob's bill" - it is LEGAL under the Johnson amendment.
It is no trick at all to keep within the law and still be politically active. It always surprises me when someone gets legally sanctioned for crossing the line. IMO, you either have to be abysmally stupid or abysmally arrogant.
It was such a joke anyways. Essentially, black churches could hold political rallies if they chose while any white church that mentioned anything political was targeted.
Well anything for Democrats or against Republicans. However if they speak against having sex with the same gender or changing gender sexual orientation issues now trumps racial issues
It's actually no surprise you want the government to "punish" those you hate.
Why should churches pay income taxes and not colleges?
Colleges teach something of value. Churches don't.
Now first things first....
Why were you so quick to mention black churches while TOTALLY ignoring the political influence of white evangelical churches on elections and the fact that Jerry Falwell ran his organization out of the Reagan White House?
Do tell. One reason of course is that you're from Texas....but what's the rest of the reason?
the churches and land held by them need to start paying taxes. The free ride is over...
I agree.
There's a small town nearby with a megachurch that was built on property purchased from corporate. The town ends up paying the bill for traffic control and wear on roads while their property taxes go up. It wouldn't be such a bad thing if it were not that 99% of the congregation doesn't live (thus does not contribute) to the local town.
What a guy, he's going to make it possible for churches to give him money for his reelection. And that's what will make America great, giving Donald money. Godspeed Donald.
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