President Donald Trump will sign an executive order Thursday that rolls back at least some of the restrictions religious organizations have when it comes to getting political.
Thursday is the National Day of Prayer, and Trump will host religious leaders at the White House to mark the occasion. According to The New York Times, Trump may sign a directive that would cancel out a section of the federal tax code that prevents religious organizations from participating in politics because of their tax-exempt status.
Organizations have complained for years about the speech restrictions placed on them simply because of their legal status with the IRS.
During a campaign speech last September, Trump promised to "give our churches their voice back."
There have been incidents in recent years during which pastors have defied IRS rules and endorsed political candidates from their pulpits across the country.
Thursday's executive order, however, might not be necessary. As the Times notes, some leaders in the religious community may not actively participate in politics — by endorsing candidates, for example — because they don't want to divide their churches.
It was also reported this week that Trump may also sign a religious liberty executive order Thursday. Vice President Mike Pence signed a similar bill into law when he was governor of Indiana in 2015, which resulted in a firestorm of criticism thrown his way.
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