Activist churches defy tax exempt ruling

[Initech]

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

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.

Last year, 539 pastors participated. This year organizers expect far more. Participants want to force the matter to court as a freedom of speech and religion issue.

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

Hey IRS, it's time to grow a spine and lay the smack down on these dipshits - they're making billions and paying no taxes. If they want to preach politics, they pay. Enough of this crap already!

[davsand]

1. Tax exemption is not some divine right.

I have zero problems with any church that wants to be in politics as long as they are not subsidized by a tax exemption. It's an either or thing, really. Either you don't pay taxes and you refrain from politics or you pay your taxes like everybody else and you get to be political. It's a very simple concept and I think they can mostly understand it if they try.

All it is gonna take is for the IRS to get harsh with just a few of the more militant churches and this entire discussion will fade back into obscurity.



YMMV.


Laura

[progressoid]

2. Pulpit freedom ain't free.

Say what you want as long as you pay your taxes.

Wanna be tax exempt? Play by the rules.

[jonthebru]

3. As I understand it..

Churches are like non profits that have a board of directors with whom the real fiduciary responsibility lies. I could very well be incorrect and I know there are many ways to set up a tax exempt organization. But that being said the board has to either fully support what this clown s doing or they are in a mess trying to clean up after him.
Too many of those in organized religion are ego based. That is why I do not participate.

[Tx4obama]

4. 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.

[HiPointDem]

5. take away their tax exemption and give them their fucking freedom.

[4_TN_TITANS]

6. Another Eric Holder failure..

Notice that it's been happening since 2008? There's just so much crap that Holder should have nipped in the bud from the start, but his priorities seem to be somewhere other than 'the people'.