Trump limits IRS action over church political activity

WASHINGTON -- Declaring he was giving churches their "voices back," President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday aimed at easing an IRS rule limiting political activity for religious organizations -- a move that fell far short of a more sweeping order some supporters had expected.

As he marked the National Day of Prayer on Thursday at the White House, Trump signed the order on religious freedom, which directs the Treasury Department not to take "adverse action" over churches or religious organizations for political speech.

The rule rarely has been enforced.

Still, opponents said the restrictions have a chilling effect on free speech.

"This financial threat against the faith community is over," Trump said.

He long has promised the conservative Christian supporters who helped him win the White House he would block the regulation, known as the Johnson Amendment, though any repeal would have to be done by Congress.

The amendment, named for then-Sen. Lyndon Johnson, was put into force in 1954.

The policy allows a wide range of advocacy on political issues, but in the case of houses of worship, it bars electioneering and outright political endorsements from the pulpit.

The IRS does not make public its investigations of such cases, but only one church is known to have lost its tax-exempt status as a result of the prohibition.

Trump's order also asks federal agencies to consider issuing new regulations the White House says could help religious groups that object to paying for contraception under the Affordable Care Act health law.

And it asks the attorney general to issue guidance on federal religious-liberty protections.