Trump blames Johnson for “silencing the church.” That’s not quite what LBJ intended. The rule bars tax-exempt charitable groups, which the Internal Revenue Service calls “section 501(c)(3) organizations,” from endorsing candidates and getting involved in political campaigns. Because churches fall under section 501(c)(3) of the tax code, the ban applies to them as well. “I am going to work very hard to repeal that language and to protect free speech for all Americans,” Trump said during his speech at the National Republican Convention in Cleveland last month as the crowd erupted in applause. “Under the Internal Revenue Code, all section 501(c)(3) organizations are absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office,” according to the tax code.

Source: Washington Post August 11, 2016 12:00 UTC