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GA Faith Leaders Respond to Trump’s Executive Order Targeting Religious Institutions

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 4, 2017

CONTACT:

Michelle Nealy, mnealy@faithinpubliclife.org, (202) 735-7123

Graham Younger, gyounger@faithinpubliclife.org, (678) 739-8584

GA Faith Leaders Respond to Trump’s Executive Order Targeting Religious Institutions

Atlanta, Ga. — President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday, May 4th, aimed at weakening enforcement of the Johnson Amendment, a law that bars churches and tax-exempt groups from endorsing political candidates. A prominent group of interfaith clergy held a press conference at St. Mark United Methodist Church in response to the signing of this executive action.

Rev. William Flippin, Jr, Emmanuel Lutheran Church:

“The ultimate deal maker has relaxed rules barring tax-exempt churches from participating in politics. We are here saying that we’re not interested in a compromise or deal and you can’t politic a deal for religious discrimination.”

Rev. Kim Sorrells, Reconciling Ministries Network:

“As a pastor, I’m not concerned about losing my religious freedom but as a transgender person, I am worried about being discriminated against because of overly broad religious exemptions. I am afraid that if I’m injured and taken to the ER a doctor could refuse to treat me when they see that my body is different. As a person of faith, discrimination is not a value that fits into my faith tradition. I don’t want to see religion used as means of harming people.”

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