Activist churches bait IRS, but agency won't bite so far

[yortsed snacilbuper]

Pastor Jim Garlow will stand before congregants at his 2,000-seat Skyline Wesleyan Church in La Mesa, California, on Sunday, October 7, just weeks before the U.S. presidential and congressional elections, and urge his flock to vote for or against particular candidates.

He knows such pulpit pleading could endanger his church's tax-exempt status by violating IRS rules for a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. A charity can take a position on policy issues but cannot act "on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office." To cross that line puts the $7 million mega-church's tax break at risk.

Even so, Garlow not only intends to break the rules, he also plans to spend the next four months recruiting other pastors to do the same as part of Pulpit Freedom Sunday. On that day each year since 2008, ministers intentionally try to provoke the IRS. Some even send DVD recordings of their sermons to the agency.

http://bottomline.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/06/21/12343407-activist-churches-bait-irs-but-agency-wont-bite-so-far?lite

[MADem]

1. Those fuckers are free to say whatever they would like.

And they are also free to pay their damn taxes without any exemptions.

I hope the IRS waits until they have egregious evidence, and then hammers them mercilessly.

[SoutherDem]

2. Is this some grand plan to make it to SCOTUS?

If they did I am honestly afraid what the current court would rule.

[elleng]

3. Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.

[SoutherDem]

5. Are you saying they will say this is part of there freedom of religion?

Churches are non profits that is why they are tax exempt.

[elleng]

6. Means 2 things, no laws promoting the establishment of a religion,

and no laws prohibiting the free exercise thereof.

'Establishment clause' suggests no tax exemption (law) for religious entities which sponsor and promote particular political candidates or legislation along with their religious doctrines. They may not attempt to influence legislation or intervene in political campaigns.

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p1828.pdf

[WCGreen]

4. This is a great chance to get rid of the tax exemptions status of churches...

Far too much "charitable" giving in this country goes to nothing more than PR and high priced salaries for thousands of entrepreneurial pastors like the guy in the story and, the biggest fraud, Pat Robertson.

I would rather see churches be run like business because that is what they mostly are. Give the money to charities that actually do charitable work.

Churches such as the Catholic Church could have two donations, one to the established Catholic Charities and the second deduction, not tax deductible, for up keep of the church...

[Tx4obama]

7. Churches should be treated like the new rules for insurance companies ...

if they don't use 80% of their revenues for needy people, then they should have to endure a penalty

In the old days it seems as if the majority of churches used their money to pay the 'normal' bills and help their communities.

Nowadays MANY churches spend MANY MILLIONS on TV airtime, mansions, expensive cars, expensive jewelry, etc.

I think it is time to redefine what a 'church' is and what money is actually exempt from taxes.

And if they are going to preach politics from the pulpit then they should lose ALL of the tax exempt status.

[angel123]

8. IRS won't take the bait.

The IRS won't take the bait because evangelicals are determined to get the issue before this conservative reactionary court, where they believe they have s better than average change of getting a decision in their favor.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

9. Historically, black churches were also the political centers for the communities

SCLC and others expanded that role. Be careful of the law of unintended consequences.