Donald Trump mentioned a repeal of the Johnson amendment in his acceptance speech in last night. I produced this video in 2012 for The Family Research Council to tell the story of the Johnson Amendment and why so many churches are fearful of speaking out on today's cultural issues. Proposed by then-Senator Lyndon B. Johnson, the amendment affects churches and other nonprofit organizations with 501(c) tax exemptions. In recent years the Alliance Defending Freedom has attempted to challenge the Johnson Amendment through the Pulpit Freedom Initiative, which urges church pastors to violate the statute in protest. The ADF contends that the amendment violates First Amendment rights. The Johnson Amendment is the basis for most of the lawsuits against churches or Christian non-profits by Barry W. Lynn and Americans United for Separation of Church and State as well as other anti-Christian free speech organizations.
