Pastor Bob: “Shhhhh Pastor–you can’t say that!”
By Rev. Robert Babcox | Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice
“Shhhhh, Pastor, you can’t say that!”
That’s what they want us to believe. That if we dare speak the truth about what’s going on in our country, we’re risking our church’s tax status. But here’s the thing—truth doesn’t come with a mute button.
Let me explain where this all started: The Johnson Amendment—for what good it has done, or should I say what good it has prevented.
The Johnson Amendment is a provision in the U.S. tax code, in place since 1954, that prohibits all 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations from endorsing or opposing political candidates. These organizations range from charitable foundations to universities and churches.
It’s named for then-Senator Lyndon B. Johnson of Texas, who introduced it in a prelim...