President Trump signed an executive order on Thursday that relaxed rules preventing churches and other religious organizations from engaging in political advocacy.
“We are giving our churches their voices back,” Trump said Thursday during a ceremony in the White House Rose Garden, flanked by Christian leaders.
“We will never, ever stand for religious discrimination,” Trump said. “We will not allow people of faith to be targeted, bullied or silenced anymore.”
The president’s order will free religious groups from restrictions on their political speech imposed by the Johnson Amendment, a tax regulation placed on religious nonprofits. The order will also allow religious organizations to opt out of Obamacare provisions that conflict with their beliefs, such as a mandate that churches provide coverage for contraceptives.
Trump noted Thursday during his signing ceremony that he had long stood against the Johnson Amendment. His opposition to the rule stretches back to the presidential campaign.
“Under this rule, if a pastor, priest or imam speaks about issues of political or public importance, they are threatened with the loss of their tax-exempt status,” Trump said. “This executive order directs the IRS not to unfairly target churches or religious organizations for political speech.”
