this post was submitted on 17 Jan 2024
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Churches campaigning for Trump? Take away their tax-exempt status.

Non Paywalled Link: https://ghostarchive.org/archive/x2zrw

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[–] Botanicals@lemmy.world 112 points 2 years ago (21 children)

Remember, if you see or hear a church actively campaigning for any sort of politics you can report them and get their tax free status taken away. 👍

[–] Ghostalmedia@lemmy.world 28 points 2 years ago (1 children)

That’s the brilliant thing about the making politics about cultural issues. Churches can campaign for culture shit all day long. They just can’t say “vote for _____.”

[–] Theprogressivist@lemmy.world 41 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

But Trump has made clear he won’t punish churches that violate the Johnson amendment in 2024, even vowing on a Christian nationalist broadcast last May that he’ll abolish the prohibition if reelected.

But that's exactly what they're doing.

[–] Gormadt@lemmy.blahaj.zone 11 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I didn't know that was a thing that could happen

I've got to do some research because my grandparents church has been doing this since Bush Sr.

[–] Son_of_dad@lemmy.world 3 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Not a single church ever has had their tax status taken away for politics. It doesn't happen

It happened in 92, but that's the only publicly known instance.

[–] tacosanonymous@lemm.ee 10 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I mean, it’s supposed to work that way but that's extremely rare.

[–] Theprogressivist@lemmy.world 37 points 2 years ago (3 children)

If enough get reported, especially since now it's been vocalized and reported. They're going to be forced to do something about it. I acknowledge it is wishful thinking, though, but don't give up. Report these fucks either way.

[–] Telorand@reddthat.com 24 points 2 years ago

Doing something about it has a non-zero chance of success.

Doing nothing about it has a guaranteed chance of failure.

[–] knobbysideup@sh.itjust.works 7 points 2 years ago

Maybe talk to the local news about it.

[–] PseudoSpock@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 2 years ago

Record it happening so you have evidence to back it up. Get it onto social media so everyone can help report it, too!

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[–] grue@lemmy.world 47 points 2 years ago (1 children)

This is what you get when you consistently don't crack down on churches abusing their tax-exempt status starting a decade (or longer) ago.

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[–] thesprongler@lemmy.world 46 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Fine, as long as they have their tax exempt status removed.

[–] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 18 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

They won't, because the politicians they elect will defend their base of support.

This isn't like when Obama/Pelosi went after ACORN in 2009. Or SCOTUS struck down the right of unions to fund raise for candidates under the Janis decision. Or FOX News spent months freaking out over the Ground Zero Mosque. Or Midwestern governors tried to cancel Sunday early voting in order to undermine "Souls to the Polls" black Evangelical turnout. These are people with real money and influence who aren't to be fucked with.

Conservatives will tap that reserve whole heartedly. Liberals will just shrug and say they can't be taxed because of The Norms.

[–] teamevil@lemmy.world 42 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Absolutely remove the tax exemption if they are trying to get political

[–] LaunchesKayaks@lemmy.world 9 points 2 years ago

Just remove the exemption no matter what at this point

[–] carl_dungeon@lemmy.world 36 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Christofacists are the fucking worst

[–] Untitled4774@sh.itjust.works 7 points 2 years ago

I hate Illinois nazis

[–] NABDad@lemmy.world 33 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Someone commented a while ago that "Nationalist Christians" is a better name for these groups because it conveniently reduces to an easy to remember abbreviation: NatC's

I really think we should push that.

[–] pearsaltchocolatebar@discuss.online 1 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Cnat isn't a hard to remember abbreviation, though.

[–] Boddhisatva@lemmy.world 23 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Say NatC out loud. You may find it sounds a lot like another term that applies to Christian Nationalists.

[–] SinningStromgald@lemmy.world 31 points 2 years ago (5 children)

If anyone finds any especially with video evidence I am more than happy to take a minute to report the shits to the IRS.

[–] CosmicTurtle@lemmy.world 20 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Also keep in mind that there's often a reward for turning in tax fraud. Not that should motivate you.

[–] SinningStromgald@lemmy.world 13 points 2 years ago

Didn't know that and don't care about it when it comes to this.

[–] BrianTheeBiscuiteer@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago

This makes me want to go back to church. Just a little though.

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[–] Fapper_McFapper@lemmy.world 28 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Yes, violate your 501c status. We’re watching and ready to report you.

[–] Telorand@reddthat.com 17 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Effectively 1/3 of the US is Nones (and growing). I don't have the breakdown in front of me, but a sizeable number are "switchers," people who left their childhood religion.

I'm personally now an ex-fundigelical antitheist, so I would relish the opportunity to report them!

[–] ilinamorato@lemmy.world 6 points 2 years ago

I'm a currently exvangelical Christian and I would also relish the opportunity to report them.

[–] Leviathan@lemmy.world 16 points 2 years ago

I don't get it, if I went to a church and they even mentioned a political candidate I'd never return. That's probably why I'm an atheist now.

[–] Snapz@lemmy.world 12 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

Definitely not a rat that made a wish to be a human man.

[–] ratcliff@lemmy.wtf 2 points 2 years ago

Looks like a used car salesman

[–] eestileib@sh.itjust.works 1 points 2 years ago

It's not like the IRS would do anything about it.

[–] autotldr@lemmings.world 1 points 2 years ago (1 children)

This is the best summary I could come up with:


It’s a brazen effort to transform religious congregations — which are technically supposed to keep electoral politics out of the pulpit — into a campaign powerhouse for the former president.

He spent much of the recent holiday weekend attempting to trash the legacy of a storied Christian reverend, Martin Luther King, Jr.)

The law is rarely enforced, and has been skirted by churches of all political orientations — whether by pastors who make their personal endorsements public or by congregations organizing turnout-boosting efforts like “souls to the polls.”

But Trump has made clear he won’t punish churches that violate the Johnson amendment in 2024, even vowing on a Christian nationalist broadcast last May that he’ll abolish the prohibition if reelected.

During his podcast, Wallnau insisted that the Courage Tour will also be working with right-wing women’s groups including Moms for America — which touts “truth, family, freedom and the Constitution” — and Concerned Women for America, a group dedicated to “Biblical values and Constitutional principles.” Wallnau insisted: “We’re creating a broad net.”

The movement poses a danger to democracy because it “sees no room for compromise,” Andrew Whitehead, author of Taking America Back for God: Christian Nationalism in the United States has told Rolling Stone.


The original article contains 1,120 words, the summary contains 205 words. Saved 82%. I'm a bot and I'm open source!

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[–] white_shotgun@aussie.zone 1 points 2 years ago

Screwed up i tell ya it's all farked

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