Trump To Sign Executive Order Making It Easier For Churches To Participate In Political Campaigns

The New York Times reports:

President Trump plans to mark the National Day of Prayer on Thursday by issuing an executive order that makes it easier for churches and other religious groups to actively participate in politics without risking their tax-exempt status, several administration officials said.

Taking action as he hosts conservative religious leaders Thursday morning, Mr. Trump’s executive order would attempt to overcome a provision in the federal tax code that prohibits religious organizations like churches from directly opposing or supporting political candidates.

The move is likely to be hailed by some faith leaders, who have long complained that the law stifles their freedom of expression. But the order falls short of a more sweeping effort to protect religious liberties that has been pushed by conservative religious leaders since Mr. Trump’s election.

The Times notes that like many of Trump’s executive orders, this one might be largely symbolic as it would take an act of Congress to repeal the Johnson Amendment. Meanwhile we’re still waiting to hear more about the pending anti-LGBT executive order, which Politico yesterday reported would also be signed tomorrow. No news is good news?