Posted on 03/22/2005 8:23:42 AM PST by Brian Mosely
The IRS has notified a Liberty City church that it is under investigation for possibly engaging in political activity -- putting its tax-exempt status into question.
The probe is related to an appearance last October by Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry and several black leaders, including U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek of Miami, the Rev. Al Sharpton and the Rev. Jesse Jackson.
The reason for the investigation, an IRS official wrote in a 10-page letter obtained by The Herald, is that ``a reasonable belief exists that Friendship Missionary Baptist Church has engaged in political activities that could jeopardize its tax-exempt status as a church.''
(Excerpt) Read more at miami.com ...
Apply the 'treated like a business' idea equally. Include other entities like Red Cross, United Way, etc. in that.
Some churches going astray is not all churches going astray. Many are leavng their apostate churches for true-teaching denominatons.
In other words, you must pay to have free speech. Not very free.
The point is that churches who have registered as 501(c)(3) are subject to these rules. CHURCHES ARE NOT REQUIRED TO FILE AS SUCH!
Tax them all!
Then maybe I wouldn't have to give ~30% of my salary to the IRS every year.
THE CASE FOR CHURCHES TO REMAIN TAX-EXEMPT
1. Historically, churches were not taxed because our laws recognized the existence of God. In tax jurisprudence, only a greater entity can tax a lesser. Because no American governmental entity ever previously considered itself to be greater than God, God and His Church have not historically been taxed. Courts have considered the question of what judge would have jurisdiction over God in the event of nonpayment of property taxes. Because our American laws have traditionally recognized God, churches have not historically been taxed.
2. Churches offer a special function that is essential to all societies—one that government cannot as effectively provide. Churches guide people as they seek to make sense of life. They assist people in dealing with issues regarding God, self, purpose, failure, loss, sickness, disability, birth, and death. A society without answers to such meaning-of-life questions is jeopardized by people who view life as meaningless; and therefore, live for the moment in selfish and potentially reckless pursuits.
Full article at: http://www.christianlaw.org/tax-exempt.html
HAVE TO start somwhere
No links but most of my info from Republican pols in churches comes from a local radio program that used to air in the Cleveland area on AM 1000 (Pastor Ernie Sanders' show). During election season, there were always plenty of Republicans on & they used to always talk about going to churches & speaking from pulpits.
I would think getting info would be as easy as contacting campiagn staffs for itineraries.
Our church lawyer and the Diocese Lawyers in 1992 sent out several letters, documents and copies of canon law stating that we could lose our non profit status for allowing any politician running for office to speak or anyone supporting a politician running for office speaking officially.
Sounds to me like they're just being risk adverse re: politicians speaking. The IRS is pretty clear on this issue. Perhaps you should print the info from the following link (IRS website) & forward to your pastor.
Tax Guide for Churches and Religious Organizations
Politicians can speak from the pulpit, talk politics, etc. Churches, however, must make the same opportunities available to other politicians, such as opponents or those from other parties.
Exactly how far they have to go is, I believe, unsettled. That is, do they have an affirmative obligation to contact someone's opponent(s) in a Senate race when they allow one candidate to speak? Or do they just have to make the opportunity available if the other candidate(s) inquire? I'm not sure.
The big no-no, of course, is a church, pastor or any subdivision of a church endorsing candidates while they are speaking withing their official capcity as reps of the church. Pastors can still endorse politicians within their capacity as private citizens.
Obviously, if they are to do so, they should make crystal clear that their endorsement is their own & not the church's.
Section 527 of the tax code grants an exemption from income tax to organizations formed for the explicit purpose of influencing elections (whether federal, state or local) and nominations for federal office.
So, it looks like it's all or nothing when it comes to political speech and tax-exemptness.
Something smell here to you guys?
"I disagree with the IRS investigating any Church. It is sad that Churches don't have first amendment protection."
All church organizations under 501-C-3 are in partnership with the government and the government can dictate what they preach. Read the code...
"I disagree with the IRS investigating any Church. It is sad that Churches don't have first amendment protection."
All church organizations under 501-C-3 are in partnership with the government and the government can dictate what they preach. Read the code...
Thanks. What you posted here is what we were warned about:
"Politicians can speak from the pulpit, talk politics, etc. Churches, however, must make the same opportunities available to other politicians, such as opponents or those from other parties."
"Exactly how far they have to go is, I believe, unsettled. That is, do they have an affirmative obligation to contact someone's opponent(s) in a Senate race when they allow one candidate to speak? Or do they just have to make the opportunity available if the other candidate(s) inquire? I'm not sure."
For Example, in the recall of Governor Davis, there were a slew of candidates.
You are correct.
Sorry about the double post.
Read the law that is above the Code. "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof".
Well, I could easily see where a church would get cold feet at the prospect of having Gary Coleman or that porn star who was running speak from the pulpit.
Churches DO have first amendment rights, but not with tax exempt status when it comes to politics. If the church wants to play politics, it can simply give up its tax exempt status. With comments like yours, you might have to change your screen name :-)
So, how do you square that with 527's, whose sole purpose is playing politics?
The Government can regulate the Church, but the Church can't say a darn thing about it? This is so ass-backwards, if you can't see it, I am not even going to argue.
Because people who don't believe in God have more rights according to conventional wisdom.
"Read the law that is above the Code."
I understand what you are saying, but 501-C-3 is voluntary on the part of a church - not required for tax exempt status.
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