Religion and politics are a dangerous combination; at worst, it can be deadly. But even under the best circumstances, when government power gets too close with religion, the result is corrosive to both.
What is the Trump administration’s relationship with organized religion? The White House sends mixed signals. On the one hand, photos of last week’s prayer circle in which Evangelical leaders laid hands on the president to invoke God’s blessing, showed a president very much at home with religion.
On the other hand, compared with previous administrations, this White House seems disinterested and aloof toward religion and its concerns.
For example, President Trump hasn’t yet gotten around to naming anyone to direct the Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships, an office that has been the link between government and a range of religious groups since 2001.
Nor has the president named anyone to the post of Ambassador-At-Large for International Religious Freedom, despite strong bipartisan support in Congress for the position and its mission.
The optics of the White House’s relationship with religion are also noticeably cool. This year, for the first time in 20 years, there was no Ramadan celebration at the White House. This president did not attend the White House Passover Seder either. “I’d absolutely say we’re frozen out,” was the way the relationship was characterized by Steven Martin, the communications director for the National Council of Churches, a group that includes mainline Protestant, Orthodox and historically black denominations.
Do these actions — and inactions — describe a president who simply has no interest or attachment to organized religion? Not where the Conservative Evangelical community is concerned.
Evangelicals are enjoying an exceptionally warm and close relationship with the president. Richard Land, president of the Southern Evangelical Seminary in North Carolina and a veteran at the nexus of religion and politics had this to say about their relationship with the White House: “This is unlike anything we’ve experienced in our career or ministry — unprecedented access, unprecedented solicitation of opinions and viewpoints.”
During his election campaign, Mr. Trump promised to dismantle the Johnson Amendment, which bans tax- exempt organizations such as churches from political activities. The Johnson Amendment forbids politics in the pulpit in any church that enjoys a 501(c)(3), tax-exempt status. Political speech is free, but it is not taxpayer subsidized.
Supporters of repeal argue that the Johnson Amendment restricts freedom of speech. It does not.
Like all other citizens, clergy and churchgoers are entitled to speak and act politically in any way they wish. But they are not entitled to a government subsidy — delivered through the tax code — for it. Nevertheless, Mr. Trump has already signed an executive order relaxing IRS enforcement of the ban; Congressional action will be required to repeal it fully.
America is the most religious of any Western nation. We have kept it that way by respecting the distance between religion and government, keeping them harmonious and independent, in a manner suited to the historical needs of the time.
Congress has established a National Day of Prayer. Now let us call for a national day of dialogue for Americans of all faiths, and those without faith, to consider the appropriate role of religion in our national life.
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