The IRS Assures an Atheist Group It Will Monitor Churches

National Review ^ | 04/20/2015 | Quin Hillyer

[Adder]

I do not know that that is correct:

Tax exemptions were granted starting in 1894, apparently.
http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/tehistory.pdf

Some say earlier:
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ch/news/2002/may17.html

On the other hand:
http://hushmoney.org/501c3-facts.htm

So the power to grant exemptions is the same as the power to tax. Now they want to take those exemptions and beat the churches who disagree with them.

I get that.
Courts have upheld the tax exemptions of churches but from a quick perusal, its because churches perform a service government approves and needs. The exemptions do not violate the 1st Amendment. [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walz_v._Tax_Commission_of_the_City_of_New_York]

So I am still learning about the issue. I just think anytime you can tell the IRS to get stuffed, its a good idea. Some say even the IRS notes that Churches are ALWAYS exempt. If true, they can safely ignore what the IRS says.

[Cowman]

Actually, the Republican proposal for the 16th was a political trick to stop the Dems from using the income tax as a means of painting the Republican party as "the party of the rich." The strategy was to send it to the states where it wouldn't be ratified and the idea would die then and there.

It worked about as well as sending Obamacare to the Supremes to be ruled unconstitutional.

They need to stop playing games and just hold to principals -- If they have any.

There were some who did even during the debate on the income tax

A hand from Washington will be stretched out and placed upon every man’s business; the eye of the Federal inspector will be in every man’s counting house . . . The law will of necessity have inquisitorial features, it will provide penalties, it will create complicated machinery. Under it men will be hailed into courts distant from their homes. Heavy fines imposed by distant and unfamiliar tribunals will constantly menace the tax payer. An army of Federal inspectors, spies and detectives will descend upon the state . . . Who of us who have had knowledge of the doings of the Federal officials in the Internal Revenue service can be blind to what will follow?

Richard E Byrd VA house of Delegates

[Poison Pill]

Cannot even preach morality to the congregation without it hitting the thin line of electioneering.

The line isn't thin with most black and some catholic churches. It isn't the preaching that is the issue. These "churches" openly serve as political organizations. Here in Chicago, they are an industry unto themselves. Where do you think Obama learned his craft?

[MrB]

You can’t tell me that they’ll even bat an eye at a black or Catholic or PCUSA church that openly, from the pulpit and in their fliers, says “vote for Democrat X”.

[GOPJ]

There’s a lot more of us than them...

[Poison Pill]

You can’t tell me that they’ll even bat an eye at a black or Catholic or PCUSA church that openly, from the pulpit and in their fliers, says “vote for Democrat X”.

It isn't just that anymore. These "churches" use their tax exempt status to harrass legal businesses like gun shops and coordinate the violation of immigration law.

[Old Yeller]

Its a shame no one monitors the ammo depots, I mean mosques.