Trump relaxes political limits on religious groups
- by Lynn Briggs
- in Culture
- — May 17, 2017
Metcalf-Armstrong said although the order stops short allowing groups and businesses to discriminate against the LGBT community- the overall vagueness of the executive order could be risky.
ACLU had earlier indicated that it would sue if the president signed an order "that allow religion to be used as an excuse to discriminate", ending its tweet with #SeeYouInCourtAgain. Nevertheless, one thing is clear: without any of the substantive conscience protections and rollbacks of Obama-era policies like the ones in the original draft, this particular order falls well short of the multiple promises that President Trump made on the campaign trail to defend conscience rights for all Americans.
US President Donald Trump today signed an executive order which he said would stop the federal government from using the power of the state as a "weapon" against people of faith, bullying and even punishing Americans for following their religious beliefs.
He said he was giving churches their voices back. While some applaud the executive order as a move toward protecting religious liberty, more than 1,000 clergy leaders signed a statement arguing that it opens the door to discrimination.
But President Trump has been a vocal opponent of it, claiming that he would "totally destroy" the Johnson Amendment and "allow our representatives of faith to speak freely and without fear of retribution".
The executive order was important for Trump as it would help allay his conservative supporters who were disillusioned after he avoided strong actions against issues like abortion during his time in office. The 1954 amendment has prohibited tax-exempt charitable organizations such as churches from participating in political campaigns. The Johnson Amendment only prohibits religious people and institutions from endorsing political candidates.
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The order is also created to allow religious groups to avoid a mandate to provide contraception coverage under President Obama's healthcare law, the Affordable Care Act, potentially expanding an exemption that had been carved out in the courts.
The order also forbids the Treasury Department from denying religious groups tax deductions for donations to political groups.
SIEGEL: This executive order is controversial.
Leaders of some faith groups condemned the order, saying it would damage congregations by politicizing them. "IF YOU'RE GOING TO WORK FOR THE PEOPLE, THEN YOU HAVE TO ABIDE BY THE DECISIONS OF THE PEOPLE " The Interfaith Alliance of Iowa said today - "President Trump's executive order is unsafe andill advised for the government'sinterest and for houses ofworship".
"We know all too well the attacks against the Little Sisters of the Poor", he said, "incredible nuns who care for the sick, the elderly, and the forgotten".
