Surprises

Years ago, I accompanied my Church’s confirmands across the street to a catholic Sunday Mass. It led to a few surprises:

I received curious looks at work the the next day. “My God, Ed. You have six kids, all the same age, and none of them look alike.”

I missed my chance for a miracle cure of the sore throat that I had a few weeks before. That Sunday’s patron saint was in charge of throats and the maladies therein. After Mass, I could have gone up front for a special blessing.

On entering the church, we not only were handed a Bulletin, but a pre-stamped postcard, ready for our signature, addressed to our Congressman encouraging him to vote “pro-life”.

The first two surprises were amusing and legal. The third was deadly serious and patently illegal. In the 1950s, the Johnson Amendment (sponsored by then-Senator Lyndon) became law. It forbade houses of worship from engaging in political advocacy at the risk of losing their tax-exempt status. To this day, 76% of Americans agree that “churches should not come out in favor of one candidate over another.”

Unfortunately, the remaining 24% is part of Trump’s base. Donnie promised Christian Conservatives that he would get rid of the Johnson Amendment. He finally got around to it.

Masked by last week’s Epstein Files furor, the Internal Revenue Service supported a lawsuit by the National Religious Broadcasters and the Intercessors for America declaring the Johnson Amendment unconstitutional. IRS Commissioner Billy Long (there’s a name to inspire respect) stated that banning tax-exempt non-profits from participating in political campaigns violates the First Amendment’s Freedom of Religion and Freedom of Speech. “When a house of worship in good faith speaks to its congregation concerning electoral politics viewed through the lens of religious faith, it neither participates nor intervenes in a political campaign.”

“Jesus wants you to vote for Candidate X!” Is apparently OK according to Billy Long.

White House spokesman Taylor Rogers said, “This lawsuit is a victory for people of faith across the country. The Trump administration will not tolerate any infringement on American’s First Amendment rights.”

Yo Taylor. How about the Fifth and Sixth Amendments Right to Due Process before you are handcuffed by a masked ICE agent and shipped off to Alligator Alcatraz without a trial or legal counsel?

Religion and politics do not mix. For thousands of years, men have justified killing with “I am doing God’s will.” The Founding Fathers specifically separated Church and State for that reason. Trump 2.0 apparently knows better.

By Ed Dufton