Saturday, February 04, 2017

Trump Wants To Let Your Pastor Do Party Politics. Here's Why It's A Bad Idea


Whenever anyone asked why 81 per cent of white evangelicals voted for Donald Trump in spite of his various obvious moral flaws, the answer was easy. It's the Supreme Court. Of course it wasn't as simple as that, but it was a factor.

Indeed this week, when Trump's pick, Neil Gorsuch, was announced, it was obvious that many evangelical leaders felt they were vindicated. Veteran conservative Christian campaigners such as Dr James Dobson (evangelical) and Bill Donohue (Catholic) greeted the choice with warm words. Even Dr Russell Moore of the Southern Baptist Convention, who has been an implacable opponent of Trump, described Gorsuch as a, "brilliant and articulate defender of constitutional originals".

Trump had given conservative Christians what they seemed to want. Whether they voted for him holding their noses or whether they were enthusiastic cheerleaders, they had got their pro-life justice nomination. This is what makes Trump's announcement about the Johnson Amendment at the National Prayer Breakfast so astonishing. He promised to get rid of the decades-old agreement which "prohibits tax-exempt organisations such as churches and other places of worship, charities and educational institutions from directly or indirectly participating in any political campaign in favor or against a political candidate". Read More

Related Articles:
3 Ways Trump Missed The Point At The National Prayer Breakfast
Catholic Theologian Slams Trump's Border Wall, Says 'Significant Spiritual Issues Are At Stake'

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