Contemplation of the Johnson Amendment

In 1954, a Republican Congress, along with a Republican president, Dwight D. Eisenhower, passed a piece of legislation that prohibits federally tax-exempt 501(c)(3)'s from participating in a political campaign [either in support of or opposition to any candidate]. In particular, if ministers were to endorse or oppose a candidate from the pulpit, they would put at risk their tax-exempt status. It would be called the Johnson Amendment and it is still in force to this day.

With the now dramatic shift in political perspective, these old conservative values no longer hold true, as many Republicans want the Johnson Amendment repealed. If they succeed, the line between Church and State will blur.

Is the Amendment a bad thing for Christianity or does it protect Christianity from inching back ever closer into the realm of theocracy? Find out what Bishop Bryan Ouellette and Deacon Thomas Moreland have to say about it on this edition of Vestiges of Christianity.