Group plans to challenge IRS church rules

[cynatnite]

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., May 9 (UPI) -- A right-wing advocacy group plans a challenge to U.S. Internal Revenue Service rules that churches involved in politics lose their tax-exempt status.

The Alliance Defense Fund of Scottsdale, Ariz., is recruiting ministers to make political sermons Sept. 28, a few weeks before the presidential election, The Wall Street Journal reported Friday. The group hopes to challenge the constitutionality of the tax law, the report said.

Erik Stanley, senior legal counsel for the alliance, said about 80 ministers, including a Catholic priest, have said they might join the protest. He said he hopes to get 40 to 50 to participate, including some liberals.

The Rev. Steve Riggle of Grace Community Church in Houston said he told his flock before the Texas primary he supported former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.

http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Top_News/2008/05/09/group_plans_to_challenge_irs_church_rules/9365/

[Selatius]

1. Separation of church and state as laid down by the Founding Fathers.

Of course, people conveniently forget for the sake of religion.

[Cerridwen]

2. Oh, lookey here - Dr. James Dobson and the Alliance Defense Fund

Responding to the urgent need for the legal defense and advocacy of religious freedom, the leaders of more than 35 ministries came together in 1994 to launch ADF. These leaders included the late Dr. Bill Bright, the late Larry Burkett, Dr. James Dobson, the late Dr. D. James Kennedy, and the late Marlin Maddoux. Their prime concern was the dramatic loss of religious freedom in America's courts and the resulting challenges to people of faith to live and proclaim the Gospel. and some other founders

-snip to what they look for in their allies -

ADF Allies are those who willingly share common values on one or more of the issues within ADF's mission. We respectfully recognize that many organizations that have worked with us in the past or on specific issues may not agree with ADF's position on every legal issue, no more than ADF may agree with all of theirs. We thank those who have acted in unity on common ground to stand with us now or in the past in the legal struggles for religious freedom, the sanctity of life, and to preserve marriage and the traditional family.

-snip to name some of their allies -

Educational


Catholic University of America

Center for Reclaiming America

The Claremont Institute

The Foundation for American Christian Education

Foundation for Individual Rights in Education

Intelligent Design Network

National Right to Life

Regent Law School

Trinity Law School

WallBuilders

This is one scary group of medievalists.

[nichomachus]

3. Oh, this is the best news ever

If it goes through, I will immediately form the First Church of Fuck Conservatives. Everything we do will be tax exempt -- cool.

[LaStrega]

5. BWAHAHAHA! Many would flock to that flock!

[kestrel91316]

4. Dear RW christofascists:

Be VERY careful what you wish for. You just may get it.

I will personally found a church and use it as a political soapbox as soon as the opportunity presents, and so should each and every one of us. I am a legally ordained minister of the Universal Life Church.

I'm thinking the Church of Bastet would be a good name. Monthly meetings in my home, lots of good food and drink and naked dancing. And LOTS of political "good works". My cat hospital can be an outreach ministry, and I can use the exam room pulpit for political influencing.

[GregL]

6. I have always wondered

why religious institutions are tax exempt anyway. I'm pretty sure that even THIS Supreme Court is going to hold with the IRS on this one, as I don't remember any clause anywhere in the Constitution that gives religious institutions tax exemptions in the first place. Which means the tax exemptions are covered by law written and enacted by Congress, and subject to enforcement by the IRS. And those laws state that in order to be tax exempt, an organization cannot engage in advocacy. I mean, this doesn't only apply to churches, this applies to all tax-exempt organizations. Even 527s cannot directly advocate voting for or against a candidate. HOWEVER! I can see the IRS getting itself in hot water if they try to pull the tax exempt status of a church for suggesting, say....that it would be a sin to vote for "a candidate" who holds a position that is objectionable to the church in question. They aren't saying "Don't vote for Candidate X", they are merely stating that the teachings of that particular cult..err, church are in direct opposition to the positions some candidate might hold and that voting for "a candidate" who holds that position would be WRONG.

I personally feel that Congress should re-write the tax laws and get rid of the tax exempt status, period. I don't care WHAT the organization does, they need to pay their fair share if they end the year with more than they began it. Churches have WAY too much money and consequently, influence in our government.

[kestrel91316]

7. I support the existence of non-profit organizations.

But in return for their tax-exempt status they need to stay out of politics.

It's why various organizations have a PAC that is separately funded from the main organization. The PAC is where they get involved in politics, and the main organization minds its own business. Perhaps churches should be doing this.............