Friendly Atheist Podcast

591 - The End of the Johnson Amendment?

5 snips
Jul 10, 2025
The hosts dive into the implications of the Johnson Amendment, discussing whether it remains intact as churches may now endorse political candidates. They highlight the outrage over anti-LGBTQ sermons from an Indiana church and a controversial $5 million religious grant in West Virginia. The podcast critiques a Fox News segment promoting a creationist theme park, while also addressing accountability issues within religious institutions, especially following a priest's conviction for abuse. The lively discussion combines humor with pressing social and ethical concerns.
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INSIGHT

Johnson Amendment Enforcement Gap

  • The Johnson Amendment restricts nonprofits, including churches, from endorsing political candidates to keep their tax-exempt status.
  • Despite this, enforcement has been almost nonexistent, allowing widespread candidate endorsements from pulpits.
INSIGHT

Church Financial Transparency Issue

  • Churches have a unique tax exemption without the usual financial transparency requirements applied to other nonprofits.
  • This secrecy raises concerns about churches becoming black holes for undisclosed political funding.
INSIGHT

IRS Softens Johnson Amendment

  • The IRS has agreed not to enforce the Johnson Amendment against churches endorsing candidates.
  • They classify such endorsements as family discussions within religious services, effectively legalizing political speech from pulpits.
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