Letters to the editor: Changing Johnson Amendment would hurt religious institutions

I recently joined over 4,000 faith leaders in a letter urging Congress to reject efforts to repeal or weaken the Johnson Amendment. Repeal or weakening this provision of the tax code would put our faith-based institutions – our houses of worship – at stake.

The Johnson Amendment, part of the tax code for six decades, prohibits all tax-exempt organizations, including houses of worship, from endorsing or opposing candidates. This makes sense: These institutions receive this special tax status to perform work for the common good, not to use those tax-exempt dollars to engage in divisive, partisan elections. 

The tax code allows organizations to speak out on political and social issues but they can’t tell you how to vote. I am a minister in the United Church of Christ, which, for example, speaks out on issues affecting the poor, immigrants, environmental and other social issues. But that’s as far as it goes. Because of the Johnson Amendment, our tax-exempt status would be at risk if we endorsed a political candidate. As it should be.

Weakening or repeal of the current law will undermine the integrity of our faith-based institutions. They could act to support political campaigns; they will be divided along party lines; their soup kitchens will be seen as Republican or Democratic, instead of as serving all who are in need. 

The President and Congress need to keep the Johnson Amendment as is. We want to keep our sacred spaces sacred. 

Rev. Angela Wright

Birmingham

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The wrong salute 

A column headlined “Good call on the NFL, Mr. President” ran in the Sept. 25 Advertiser edition. I agree with author Jon Christensen, but wish to add that Antifa uses the clenched fist as its symbol as well as some of the athletes. It was trademarked on  March 1, 1926, and used by the “Red Front” of the Communist Party of Germany.

Most people associate the Nazi Party with the “Hitler Salute,” while ignoring the Communist Party’s “Lenin Salute,” the “Clenched Fist.”

West Point cadet Spenser Rapone recently revealed his cover with the note inside “Communism will win” and with his left hand giving the “Lenin Salute.”

Joe Boyett 
Montgomery

So much for Christianity, patriotism 

Someone once said mixed emotions is when you see your mother-in-law drive off a cliff in your brand-new car. I think "evangelicals" in Alabama must have experienced some mixed emotions before and during the voting in the Republican primary.

During the general election last fall, 81 percent of evangelicals nationwide voted for President Donald Trump. In Alabama, the percentage was likely higher. The same evangelicals have supported Roy Moore a lot longer. Then, Trump comes to Alabama, supposedly to support Moore's opponent but ends up supporting Trump (as his custom). It apparently didn't affect those supporting Moore. Now, they love both Moore and Trump. 

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I can understand how Moore was elected to be on the state supreme court twice. I don't understand how be managed to get accepted at West Point. He must have been absent the day they taught about "Duty, Honor, Country" since he has contempt for the Constitution, the law, the truth and even the Bible. 

Now, Moore has pledged to support the most immoral, irresponsible, incompetent president in our history. So much for the evidence of his "Christianity" and "patriotism."

Carl L. Hess   

Ozark

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