POLITICS/RELIGION/TRUMP EXEC ORDER: “President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday [5-4-17] that could allow churches and other religious organizations to become more active politically.
The order, which Trump inked during a ceremony in the White House Rose Garden, directs the IRS to exercise “maximum enforcement discretion” over the Johnson amendment, which prevents churches and other tax-exempt religious organizations from endorsing or opposing political candidates. It also provides ‘regulatory relief’ for organizations that object on religious grounds to a provision in Obamacare that mandates employers provide certain health services, including coverage for contraception.
‘We will not allow people of faith to be targeted, bullied or silenced anymore,’ Trump proclaimed during his remarks, which were marking the National Day of Prayer. ‘And we will never, ever stand for religious discrimination. Never, ever.’ “
-Kevin Liptak, “Trump signs executive order to ‘vigorously promote religious liberty’,” CNN Politics, CNN.com, May 4, 2017 1:05pm