With No Johnson Amendment, Preachers Can Make $



As readers know, the Johnson Amendment tried to limit the endorsements of political candidates by churches, especially preachers. Now that it is gone, there is a dark place for the huge amount of money tossed around in national political campaigns. Preachers will be able to receive payments in exchange for political endorsements.  

Unless churches demand transparency, there is no reason preachers need to disclose "gifts" from campaigns in exchange for endorsements. It could be a preacher side hustle. 

It seems to me the entire conservative Christian enterprise is merging with the political right. Many on the right point out this is not a wise development. But the appeal to those who need egos boosted is not resistible.

It is not hard to imagine the largest donors to a church getting together and informing their employee, the preacher, what is an acceptable political posture. If there were gifts on top of this one can see the deal done. 

Often when young people who have left the church are surveyed they mention party politics in the church and preached by the clergy as one of the reasons for their discontent. With the Johnson Amendment gone the appeal to young people will be weaker than it is even now. 

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