Thursday, May 11, 2017

ACTION | SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE

ACTION for Thursday, May 11: The separation of church and state is a fundamental tenet of our democracy. Yet #45 is attempting to severely weaken that part of the First Amendment by allowing religious organizations to donate to political campaigns. This amounts to donors making tax-free contributions to candidates and causes of their choice. Sen. Wyden is leading the fight against Trump's plan. Let him and your other members of Congress know what you think of efforts to weaken the separation of church and state.
Indivisible Oregon
6 hrs
**CALL TO ACTION**
Thursday, May 11, 2016
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DEFEND THE JOHNSON AMENDMENT:
KEEP CHURCH AND STATE SEPARATE
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#JohnsonAmendment
#ReligiousLiberty
Last week President Trump signed an executive order to weaken the Johnson Amendment, which bars religious and tax-exempt groups from endorsing political candidates. (http://wapo.st/2pxJx6W). This opens the door for religious organizations to pour unlimited amounts of money into politics.
—This executive order threatens the separation of Church and State. Seventy-nine percent of Americans feel that clergy should not endorse candidates during worship services (http://bit.ly/2cIfKqe).
--This executive order can turn houses of worship into partisan political tools.
--This executive order will allow donors to skirt campaign finance laws. Currently, no political campaign contributions are tax-exempt but under this executive order donors can make tax-free donations to places of worship which can then support political campaigns (http://bit.ly/2q2yxQP).
Sen. Ron Wyden has sounded the alarm: “Using charitable causes as shell companies to evade campaign finance transparency and contribution limits would increase the flow of dark money in politics.” (http://wapo.st/2pLxN4x).
We must preserve the separation between church and state and fight to keep dark money out of politics.
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**ACTION**
CALL BOTH SENATORS AND YOUR REPRESENTATIVE
 Find your Rep: http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/
SAMPLE SCRIPT:
“My name is [--] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon. I am calling on [my Representative/Senator] to publicly pledge to block any legislation implementing Trump’s unconstitutional Executive Order attacking the Johnson Amendment. Please fight to keep dark money out of nonprofits and religious organizations, and to keep the separation of church and state.”
JUST AS IMPORTANT: CALL, TEXT, AND EMAIL YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY IN RED DISTRICTS TO DO THE SAME. “SHARE” OR COPY / PASTE THIS ACTION!
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**PHONE NUMBERS**
SENATOR MERKLEY
Portland: (503) 326-3386, DC: 202) 224-3753
Salem: (503) 362-8102, Eugene: (541) 465-6750
Medford: (541) 608-9102, Bend: (541) 318-1298
Pendleton: (541) 278-1129
SENATOR WYDEN
Portland: (503) 326-7525, DC: (202) 224-5244
Salem: (503) 589-4555, Eugene: (541) 431-0229
Medford: (541) 858-5122, Bend: (541) 330-9142
CONGRESSWOMAN SUZANNE BONAMICI [D1]
DC: (202) 225-0855, OR: (503) 469-6010
CONGRESSMAN GREG WALDEN [D2]
DC (202) 225-6730, Medford: (541) 776-4646,
Bend (541) 389-4408, La Grande (541) 624-2400
CONGRESSMAN EARL BLUMENAUER [D3]
DC: (202) 225-4811, OR: (503) 231-2300
CONGRESSMAN PETER DEFAZIO [D4]
DC 202-225-6416, Eugene: (541) 465-6732,
Roseburg: (541) 440-3523, Coos Bay (541) 269-2609
CONGRESSMAN KURT SCHRADER [D5]
DC: (202) 225-5711, Salem (503) 588-9100,
Oregon City (503) 557-1324
** After you call, please comment below and briefly share your experience!**
Trump Wants to Make Churches the New Super PACs
His promise to repeal the 1954 Johnson Amendment isn’t about free speech—it’s about cash.
THEATLANTIC.COM

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