IRS Warns Churches About Political Activities, Tax-Exempt Status

[proud2BlibKansan]

WASHINGTON (June 1, 2012)--IRS regional manager Peter Lorenzetti told pastors attending the Faith Leaders Summit meeting in Washington that activities that could result in loss of tax-exempt status include endorsing or opposing candidates, campaigning for them or making contributions to their campaigns.

But pastors are free to do any of those things as private citizens, U.S> Rep. G. K. Butterfield, D-N.C., said.

"You simply cannot do it in your capacity as the pastor of the church and give the implication that the church is endorsing the candidate,” Butterfield, a former judge, said.

Lorenzetti said churches can distribute voter guides that educate about political issues without favoring a particular candidate.

http://www.kwtx.com/centraltexasvotes/home/headlines/IRS_Warns_Churches_About_Political_Activities_Tax-Exempt_Status_156394895.html#.T8sC7wL_8Gw.facebook

[Zalatix]

1. Oh noes! The power to tax is the power to destroy! If we tax churches, they're as good as destroyed!

[lunasun]

2. well ironically ...Thank God!! I keep wondering why nothing done by IRS

[crazylikafox]

3. If they can still distribute voter guides on issues, it's all a moot point.

abortion gays abortion gays abortion gays ..... etc etc etc

same thing.

[proud2BlibKansan]

6. And that is perfectly legal.

A fact so few seem to understand.

[Gman]

22. And always has been too

[Enrique]

4. i.e. Obama's coming for our Bibles

[marsis]

5. It's about damn time.

It's become very hard to find a TV or radio broadcast that doesn't include political persuation/propoganda. Lying for the Lord on taxpayer's dimes needs to be stopped.

[proud2BlibKansan]

7. As long as they don't endorse candidates, that propaganda is perfectly legal.

[daaron]

14. Sure it's legal.

But it DOES paint a big old target on the front of the Church. Issues advocacy rings the bell for us to watch and listen to their every move and word, waiting for them to slip up.

Then, we pounce.

[marsis]

32. Are you kidding?

Just turn on the TV or radio to hear it every day, 24/7/365/25 years. What's been done? And who would do it, the tutu wearing Dems in Congress, not a chance!

[daaron]

33. Hello, I'm talking about planning a move.

Not discussing past efforts. I'm talking about the future. I'm talking about putting pressure on. Don't wanna participate? Nobody's forcing anyone, but I for one will join with like minds and at least make the effort.

[Zorra]

8. The revenue brought in from taxing churches would be enormous.

We could use that enormous revenue to feed the hungry, care for the sick, house the homeless, educate children, etc.

It's too late for IRS reprimands. All churches should have their tax exempt status revoked ASAP

The problem of political preaching from the religious pulpit is so widespread that sanctions against churches that use the pulpit for political purposes are unenforceable.

There are too many RW churches already doing this, and it would cost the law enforcement agencies responsible for sanctioning offending churches more than their entire annual budget to investigate and enforce laws.

These irresponsible, hate driven fundies are ruining things for the responsible churches, just like they are ruining impressionable minds, and our country.

SSDD.

[freshwest]

10. Yes, and we could care for the sick, etc. without discrimination!

That is the reason for a secular system, not a bunch of 'it doesn't fit my faith, so you can starve, die, go homeless.'

This stuff is getting way out of hand, like the 'doctor' refusing AIDS drugs because of her 'wages of sin' spiel.

I paid taxes to maintain civilization, not for bigotry and living like kings of of old as some of these pastors do.

[Zorra]

11. Exactly. nt

[JNelson6563]

9. My daughter recently visited her grandma.

My ex's mom, Lutheran and increasingly right wing. So to make grandma happy my daughter goes to church with her. Apparently the preacher went on and on about how Obama isn't a "real" Christian and the like. Very bigoted and nasty. My daughter was all the more certain churches aren't for her (the kids and I are basically heathens). She was shocked at how hateful the talk was and how political.

I say it's high time this shit stopped. In 2004 I stopped by a monastery and in the vestibule there was big stack of political fliers telling people to vote pro-life and making it clear they meant Bush. I took that stack of propaganda and threw it away.

Julie

[daaron]

15. Maybe you can convice her to go back with a hidden mic.

Then file a lawsuit.

[JNelson6563]

26. Nah, she was visiting from far away and has come home since.

[NorthCarolina]

12. I doubt there are any teeth in this 'warning'. nt

[amerciti001]

13. The Churches are always howling...

The Churches are always howling about Government in Religion and whatever,...but has no problems with "preaching" a good -SERMON- about the ills of this politician or that representative in government,... yet is allowed to-distribute voter guides that educate about political issues...(without favoring a particular candidate),(yeah...right!?!?), All THE WHILE WANTING A TAX EXEMPTION... not to pay any taxes!?!?, I say "let's tax the churches anyway. They will always have some sort of political implications in their [sic] Sermons about religion, till it's hard to tell if they are really a Church or some sort of a Political Front Organization masquerading as a Religious [front] Organization, i.e., a local Church. As your good book says, surely, "Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's", and unto God, hey! let's leave HIM out of it. So, Churches just pay your Taxes just as any other business does...after all, Churches are businesses.

[Donkeykick]

21. Agree!

Churches do indeed precipitate their influence without check.

[amerciti001]

28. sec. 501(c)(3) links

Exemption Requirements - Section 501(c)(3) Organizations

To be tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, an organization must be organized and operated exclusively for exempt purposes set forth in section 501(c)(3), and none of its earnings may inure to any private shareholder or individual. In addition, it may not be an action organization, i.e., it may not attempt to influence legislation as a substantial part of its activities and it may not participate in any campaign activity for or against political candidates.

Organizations described in section 501(c)(3) are commonly referred to as charitable organizations. Organizations described in section 501(c)(3), other than testing for public safety organizations, are eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions in accordance with Code section 170.

The organization must not be organized or operated for the benefit of private interests, and no part of a section 501(c)(3) organization's net earnings may inure to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual. If the organization engages in an excess benefit transaction with a person having substantial influence over the organization, an excise tax may be imposed on the person and any organization managers agreeing to the transaction.

Section 501(c)(3) organizations are restricted in how much political and legislative (lobbying) activities they may conduct. For a detailed discussion, see Political and Lobbying Activities. For more information about lobbying activities by charities, see the article Lobbying Issues; for more information about political activities of charities, see the FY-2002 CPE topic Election Year Issues.
http://www.irs.gov/charities/charitable/article/0,,id=96099,00.html

[SunSeeker]

16. K&R

[roamer65]

17. I'd pull tax exempt status from them all...and be done with it.

Jesus never mentioned tax-exempt, on the contrary he said "pay your taxes".

[daaron]

18. Just reading up, and noticed -->

that 501(c)(3) of tax code gives religious groups the exemption. But unlike those other groups, Churches etc. don't have to APPLY for that status. It's granted automatically under section 508(c)(1)(A) - "churches are exempt from applying to the IRS for tax exempt status".

Maybe this latter section is what we ought to be lobbying about. Let religious organizations apply and hold them to the same standard as any other non-profit. Right now, 508(c)(1)(A) seems like a crack in the Wall of Separation, at least arguably violating the Establishment clause.

[Cleita]

19. It's about time.

The IRS should have done this decades ago when it became noticeable that churches were acting as propaganda units for certain candidates and political parties.

[tabasco]

20. Yeah, those warnings have been sooooo effective

Time to start billing the motherfuckers.

[Orrex]

23. Tax-free status for churches is 100% bullshit

Last edited Sun Jun 3, 2012, 03:26 PM - Edit history (1)

Short of revoking that status for every single one of them (which we should absolutely do), then at the very least any church whose representatives presume to dictate public policy should lose its tax exempt status for a mininum of ten years.

I'm tired of bishops and cardinals and professional evangelists exerting their will across the political landscape without having to face any repercussions. If you're going to sit on your throne and pass judgment, you sure as hell better render unto Caesar what is Caesar's.

[amerciti001]

30. that's the problem...

As you have stated-revoking that status for every single one of them (which we should absolutely do), is the problem. There will be all sorts of Lobbying and Pundits advocating that no such thing should be done and they all will be bishops and cardinals and professional evangelists exerting their will across the political spectrum to their Representatives in the House and Senate and you can best believe that these same Elected Politicians will be sounding the drum beat not to revoke that tax exempt status on the Churches, why, that'll be a Tax increase on the churches and a job killer to boot.

[Initech]

24. Where were they during Prop (h)8 and Amendment One?

[proud2BlibKansan]

25. Once again. They can advocate for ISSUES, not candidates.

[amerciti001]

29. that's just it...

They(whom ever you are referring to as-They?) do advocate for the ISSUES, but this advocating is thinly veiled in political rhetoric ,with issues that has nothing to do with a discourse about Religion, but subliminal suggest and recommends to those seating and believing in every word as spoken to them with a little Amen and glory to... (you know who), that makes it more tangible to those weak minds who really can't think for themselves because they always retort with...Well, my Pastor said[fill in the blank] and that he/she are sinners and I should not listen to him/her and don't be a sinner by voting for this evil person...'cause they don't believe as We do!

[Bellerophon]

31. the common theme

Of people too stupid to think for themselves is a bit too elitist for my tastes....

[sarcasmo]

27. Nice!

[Hugabear]

34. So they can preach about how evil Obama is, as long as they don't specifically endorse anyone?

Go into many of these evangelical churches, it's no secret which party they're in favor of. They do everything but state that voting for Obama would be a sin.