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Twitter weighs in on religious liberty, National Day of Prayer

By Shelia Poole
May 4, 2017

The National Day of Prayer has been observed for more than six decades.

Most of the time, it passes by without much of a blip on the social media radar.

This year, though,  the Twitterverse exploded.

Why?

Well, today, President Donald Trump signed a controversial  religious liberty  executive order that eases an IRS rule  banning churches and other tax-exempt religious groups from opposing or supporting political candidates.

The House is also taking a vote on the American Health Care Act.

Related:

The Johnson Amendment explained.

Donald Trump weakens ban on churches who back or oppose political candidates

With that news, the National Day of Prayer is trending  on social media.

According to CNN, the order also gives  "regulatory relief" for groups  that object on religious grounds to a provision in Obamacare that requires employers to offer health services, including coverage for contraception.

Ralph Reed, chairman of the Faith & Freedom Coalition, had this to say:

“President Trump's executive order removes a sword of Damocles that has hung over the faith community for decades by administratively repealing the Johnson Amendment and restoring the right to political speech by pastors, churches and ministries,” he said in a statment. “By ending the Obamacare mandates that violate the religious faith of the Little Sisters of the Poor and other faith-based nonprofits, this executive order lifts a cloud of fear over people of faith and ensures they will no longer be subjected to litigation, harassment and persecution simply for expressing their religious beliefs.”

Here’s what Twitter had to say:

🙏 ✌️ (@GuthrieGF) May 4, 2017
🙏 ✌️ (@GuthrieGF) May 4, 2017
🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/678Gbi2ggR— Deporable Texasgal (@DTexasgal) May 4, 2017

About the Author

Shelia has worked at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for more than 30 years. Previously, she worked at The Lexington Herald-Leader and The Louisville Defender. Her beat is a bit of a mixed bag that includes religion and spirituality, culture and trends, race and aging. She earned degrees from Spelman College and Northwestern University.

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