Feature/Law
By Judge John Marshall Meisburg, Jr., 7-15-25
This will be a monthly column by retired Judge and practicing local attorney John Meisburg
IRS GIVES GREEN LIGHT TO PASTORS AND CHURCHES ENDORSING POLITICAL CANDIDATES
For 75 years, the pastors and churches of America have been afraid to speak about politics and endorse candidates due to the so-called Johnson Amendment to the Tax code. The Johnson Amendment prevented churches from political activity in order to keep their tax free status. However, President Trump said in 2017, and in his recent campaign, that the Johnson Amendment was unconstitutional. Last week, the Trump IRS agreed, and said in a federal court case that pastors and churches can actually endorse political candidates from the pulpit. The IRS said that this was part and parcel of giving good counsel to their congregation. No church has ever lost its 501©(3) status due to political activity, and the new IRS policy statement now makes it clear that such activity is legal. Indeed, the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution says that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, of abridging the freedom of speech.” We should pray now that the pastors and churches of America would be bold to speak out on the key political/spiritual issues of the day and actually endorse Godly candidates!
TEXAS GOVERNOR SIGNS LAW REQUIRING THE DISPLAY OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Texas Governor Greg Abbot has signed a bill into law that requires the public schools in his state to display the Ten Commandments in every classroom. The Bill passed the Texas legislature and will take effect on September 1, 2025. A similar bill drafted by Judge Meisburg is now pending in the Florida legislature, and is being promoted by our State Representative Dean Black. Pray for great favor for this bill in the upcoming session of the Florida state legislature in January of 2025.
Louisiana and Arkansas have also enacted laws requiring the display of the Ten Commandments in their public schools, and those laws have been challenged in federal court. Pray that the federal courts will uphold those laws as fully constitutional. The Ten Commandments are the very basis for most of our laws in America, and are a very important part of American history that must be taught to the next generation of young people.
STARTING POINT/RIPPLE EFFECT HEARING NOW SET FOR JULY 29TH IN NASSAU COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
A hearing will be held on July 29th in Nassau County Circuit Court in the Starting Point/Ripple Effect case. Judge Aho ruled several months ago that the defendant Starting Point must allow the plaintiffs access to the videos they were showing children in the public schools. However, Starting Point is now trying to charge the Plaintiff $4000 plus hundreds of dollars per hour to view said videos which appears to be very unreasonable. Pray that Judge Aho will grant the Plaintiff full access to the Ripple Effect videos for no charge whatsoever.
FLORIDA STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TAKES ACTION ON PORNOGRAPHIC BOOKS IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
The Florida State Board of Education recently held a hearing in Miami, Florida relating to pornographic books in the public schools. During the explosive hearing, the Superintendent of Schools in Hillsborough County was given 30 days to remove all pornographic books from his county schools, or face a criminal referral to the Florida State Attorney General. We are now seeking such a hearing in Nassau County, where a Living Waters parent objected to and removed 60 pornographic books from the public schools in this county. Nassau County has now scheduled hearings on all 60 books which could takes many months and costs tens of thousands of dollars. Pray that the State Board of Education will order the removal of all pornographic books from our county public schools, or face a criminal referral here as well. Pray that the persons responsible for placing these books in the schools will be held accountable.
U.S. SUPREME COURT TAKES A STAND FOR PARENTAL RIGHTS IN EDUCATION!
The U.S. Supreme Court has issued a decision upholding the rights of parents in Maryland to “opt out” of LGBTQ lessons being given to children in the public schools. The parents argued that forcing their children to listen to these lessons violated their religious beliefs. The Supreme Court agreed and said that the First Amendment to the Constitution gave them religious freedom and the right to opt their children out of these lessons. This is a major victory for parental rights and religious freedom. We now need to pray that parents in every state be given the right to “opt out” their children from teachings in the public schools that violate their religious faith and beliefs, pursuant to this landmark Supreme Court decision.
The views expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official position of Citizens Journal Florida
