[Always Right]

I disagree with the IRS investigating any Church. It is sad that Churches don't have first amendment protection.

[GoBucks2002]

I disagree with the IRS investigating any Church. It is sad that Churches don't have first amendment protection.

Get rid of the law. Not only is it not just, it is a huge club that intimidates conservative (mostly white and Republican) pastors because Rat churches know they can get away with anything.

A Rat admin will never investigate a Rat church and if a Republican admin does, they'll cry "racism" or "partisanship." Then, the Republicans will drop the probe because they won't want to be called "mean-spirited."

However, Rat administrations go full guns after conservative churches, to the point where some of them will not allow Republican candidates to pass out literature at the church on Election Day when people are voting there! Republican admins go after right-leaning churches in a vain attempt to get the media and other Dems to be nice to them.

[CSM]

"I disagree with the IRS investigating any Church. It is sad that Churches don't have first amendment protection."

They have as much 1st ammendment protection as any other organization or person, as long as they pay the same tax rate. If you get subsidized by the government, you have to live by their rules/demands.

Of course, I support the FairTax legislation that would eliminate this at a Federal level.

The only Churches I wanted to see removed from the Tax Exempt status is all of them in my area that failed to shovel the snow all winter. I do a lot of walking and their blatent disrespect for their fellow community members made it clear that they don't value the community that subsidizes their existence.

[BriarBey]

By signing the document to become a tax exempt church....the church has given over its rights to the government...THAT church is mandated by the government. THERE IS NO SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE WITH THAT TAX EXEMPT STATUS. Read below. The whore is in bed with the beast.

Being a pastor today is a pretty lucrative proposition, from a strictly IRS tax perspective. Pastors get a special housing allowance paid for by the Church to cover the pastors mortgage and insurance including other living expenses. The pastor gets to deduct the mortgage interest on his house and gets to exclude the housing allowance from taxable income...pretty sweet huh? This only applies to IRS ministers. This also applies if the Pastor quits. He keeps the profit on his house even though it was paid for with the offerings of the Church. Here we may find at least part of the reason IRS pastors were so silent when, for the first time in American History, the IRS seized a American Christian Church. The Indianapolis Baptist Temple was seized by the IRS on February 13, 2001. Scores of Armed Federal Agents (after getting the go-ahead from 'Born Again' Ashcroft and Bush) removed the pastor and parishioners for income tax violations. These so-called tax violations were procedural only and did not cheat the Government out of one red cent. The Pastor did not withhold income taxes from employees who were acting as independent contractors even though the employees reported the income and paid the taxes separately. It seems the IRS is not interested in the tax money, but in the CONTROL and REPORTING that comes with the IRS's Lordship over the Church.

This seizure is most strange because when Jesse Jackson clearly violated the Law by:

using Tax free foundation money to house a mistress and pay for an illegitimate child

raising money in Black Churches for his Presidential Campaign (Clearly Illegal)

no one prosecuted him or seized his assets.

[GGpaX4DumpedTea]

"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...

[GGpaX4DumpedTea]

"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...

[Go Gordon]

I disagree with the IRS investigating any Church. It is sad that Churches don't have first amendment protection.

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 :-)

[DennisR]

The IRS should investigate any church breaking the law. The ideal thing would be for absolutely no legal benefits (tax breaks, etc.) for any nonprofit, including churches. That way, the government has no inherent interest in what they do.

[Patton@Bastogne]

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Always Right


This is such a pathetic situation.


IRS 501 c-3 is a Federal Contract (US Supreme Court decision) that "earns" Religious Corporations hundreds of millions annually, paid from the US Government coffers, as "political hush money" (a la Webster Hubble, Monica Lewinski, ad nausea). Religious Corporations agree to abstain from candidate endorsements & legislative lobbying.



REPLY EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1 - Church Tax-Exempt Status : Why Created in 1934 ?

2 - Church Political Success : 1919 versus 1998 (General Patton vis-à-vis Richard Simmons).

3 - Christians' "Right-to-Know" : Primary Goal of Federal Lawsuit against Dobson, Falwell and Robertson.

4 - Biblical Commands AGAINST Church Tax-Exempt Status.

5 - US Churches : Frankenstein of Religious & Secular Entities



ISSUE-1 : Birth of Church Tax-Exempt Status - As Political Hush Money

Adopted by US Congress in 1934, immediately after Prohibition Repealed. WHY ?

Liberals FEARED the Awesome Political Power of Christian churches, especially after their successful Constitutional Amendment for Prohibition in 1919. Liberals wanted to "politically castrate" the Churches, and keep them "Out of the Game" forever. IRS 501 c-3 did just that.

Church Building Programs & Sunday TV-Broadcasts get BIG BUCKS (courtesy of tax-exempt donations). Meanwhile, Prayer is removed from Public Schools, Ten-Million Babies are butchered like Dogs, and the Nation descends in an abyss of moral degeneracy.



ISSUE-2 : Who had/has more political power ?

Option-1: US Churches in 1919 (14 years BEFORE tax-exempt status) in their Campaign for Prohibition, without the benefit of CBN's satellite TV network.

Option-2: US Churches in 1998 (64 years AFTER tax-exempt status), with pathetic defeats on the Abortion Holocaust, TV Pornography, Prayer removed from Public Schools, Prayer removed from University Graduation ceremonies, an Educational Disaster, and the culmination of all abominations, President William Jefferson Clinton (with all his decayed baggage of murder, sex scandals, and unparalleled corruption).



ISSUE-3 : Why did I launch a Federal Lawsuit against Icons of the Christian Religious Right, especially since I endorse 99-percent of the Christian Socio/Political Agenda ?

To expose the leadership's "dirty little secret" about IRS 501 c-3 (et al). Lawsuit demanded that ALL church members receive an explanation of the "voluntary" political activity restrictions of Dobson, Robertson, Falwell, et al.

IRS 501 c-3 is a Federal Contract (US Supreme Court decision) that "earns" Religious Corporations hundreds of millions annually, paid from the US Government coffers, as "political hush money" (a la Webster Hubble, Monica Lewinski, ad nausea). Religious Corporations agree to abstain from candidate endorsements & legislative lobbying.



ISSUE-4 : Why is "Political Tax-Exempt Status" such a Spiritual Abomination, with Churches having a "sweetheart Deal" to not pay Federal Taxes ?

There's NO FREE LUNCH (especially from Governments), as clearly taught by Jesus Christ. His "Render Unto Caesar" acknowledged that Rome would demand a Quid Pro Quo (something in return) IF they let Him get away with not paying taxes.

(Exodus 23:8) "You shall not accept a bribe, for bribery makes the discerning man blind and the just man give a crooked answer" (NEB).

(Deuteronomy 16:19) "You shall not pervert the course of justice or show favor, nor shall you accept a bribe; for bribery makes the wise man blind and the just man give a crooked answer." (NEB)

(Matthew 6:24) "No servant can be the slave of two masters ... You cannot serve God and Money". (NEB)

Therefore, GENUINE (I surrender all) Christians are clearly forbidden to accept money or gifts for Silence on Any Issue, albeit spiritual or moral. Church tax-exempt status absolute violates God's clear requirement that Christians say whatever needs to be said, regardless of the consequences or retribution.



ISSUE-5 : US Churches : Frankenstein of Religious & Secular Entities

I’m NOT a lawyer, just an Engineer, so my knowledge of Religious Corporations was acquired slowly after many hours in the Tulane University Law Library (New Orleans).

The US Supreme Court recognizes that US churches are comprised of TWO "Separate But Equal Entities".

Just like US segregation laws before Civil Rights …

Entity A : Religious Piece / Independent of US Government Control

Legal Jurisdiction over Theology, Prayers, Hymns and other Spiritual Stuff, etc.

Entity B : Secular Piece / Potential Slaves to Federal Tax-Exempt Law

Legal Jurisdiction over Money, Property, Purchase Orders for Hymn Books, Insurance Contracts, Payroll, Corporate Officers & Boards of Directors, Zoning Permits, Water & Electric Utility Bills, Salaries, Bonuses, Air Conditioned Dog Houses, Legal Fees, TV and Radio Broadcasts.

IF --- a Religious Corporation is under IRS 501 c-3, then ALL of the Secular Stuff is UNDER FEDERAL CONTROL.



LEGAL CASE STUDY : Bob Jones University vs. United States (1973)

Bob Jones University (BJU) prohibited inter-racial dating and marriage between it’s Staff and Students. The US Justice department said this violated the "pre-eminent" policy of US Racial Integration Policies.

BJU replied that their prohibition against inter-racial dating and marriage rested EXCLUSIVELY on their Theology and Biblical Interpretation. US said that their Federal Integration Policy was more important than BJU’s theology, especially since BJU was a Federal Contractor vis-à-vis IRS 501 C-3.

US Supreme Court ruled against BJU in 1973.

BJU’s Response : Jettisoned their Tax-Exempt Status, so that they could faithfully follow their Biblical Beliefs and Convictions. Moreover, BJU was NOW free to engage in Political Activity to their heart’s content, NO LONGER SPIRITUAL SLAVES to their Federal Tax-Exempt Masters.

Copy of Federal Lawsuit available upon request.





Patton@Bastogne
Free Republic Member since 1998.



General George S. Patton Jr. Website




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