Religion and Free Speech

Churches currently are exempt from paying taxes which keeps around seventy billion dollars from the United States Treasury, When Lyndon Johnson was running for senator his opponent was openly supported by a religious organization, so he proposed the Johnson Amendment which passed without any debate because they didn't think it really affected people. The Johnson Amendment essentially gagged tax-exempt organizations like churches from participating in politics under threat of losing their tax-exempt status.

Silencing religion in this way keeps religion out of the public eye. The unintended consequences of suppressing public debate about faith is that faith sometimes loses control of itself, and the public doesn't hear about it until it's too late. See Religious Scandals. See also: Top 15 Ruthless And Evil Cult Leaders From History.

Without a forum for public scrutiny and lack of news media coverage, religion can go completely whack and people will die.

Now President Trump has signed an executive order giving religion a little more freedom to express their political preferences. A lot of groups are opposed to the idea, but the upside will be a brighter spotlight on religion.