The Right Scoop
The churches (and all other nonprofits, religious or secular) -voluntarily- accept this restriction in exchange for tax exemption, just like every other 501(c)(3) does. If they would like to endorse candidates, they have the same choice every other nonprofit does--voluntarily relinquish tax exemption, start paying taxes, and endorse all the candidates they like. Just don't do it on the public's nickel.
That's not a "war on Christianity." The FFRF's position seems to be that either the restriction needs to be removed altogether for -all- 501(c)(3)s, or that it must be enforced evenhandedly, not against certain types of nonprofits and not others. I would tend to agree.
The reason why churches should be taxed if they are involved in politics is quite simple, because they agreed to it....
In exchange for the receipt of tax-exempt status, I.R.C. § 501(c)(3) absolutely prohibits churches and other tax-exempt organizations from campaigning for or against a candidate for public office. If a church participates or interferes, directly or indirectly, in any political campaign for or against any candidate for public office by publishing and distributing certain written material or making oral statements regarding the candidate, then a church can lose its tax-exempt status for violating the campaigning ban. I.R.C. § 1.501(c)(3)-1(c)(3)(iii). Quite simply courts have interpreted 501(c)(3) to ban any degree of participation or intervention in a campaign for public office. Ass’n of the Bar of N.Y. v. Comm'r of Internal Revenue, 858 F.2d 876, 879 (2d Cir. 1988).
There's a law against churches with tax-exempt statuses actively politicking and promoting one side or the other. Churches aren't prohibited from becoming active in politics; they just have to pay taxes like all other political organizations if they do. If you let churches not pay taxes and let them engage in politics, that would probably violate the First Amendment's establishment clause. Churches shouldn't be allowed to engage in politics and retain tax-exempt status even though other tax-exempt organizations can't engage in politics.
OK I'm off topic. After the mid terms 2010 where Pres 0bama said Dems got "shellacked" we did not see one Dem criticizing another Dems. NOT ONE. Not one ever. Now we've gotten "shellacked" ours come out to not just eat, but vehemently, consume our own. There in lies the difference. If Reps can not circle the wagons and shift the blame, the further belongs to the Dems.
FreFroRe suing?
Jeremiah Wright will shake their hands and accept donations.....
Action:
They may sou (old coin) him to death ;)
The "Freedom _From_ Religion foundation"? Sorry guys, but you misread the Constitution. It's freedom OF religion.
Oh here we go again, a lound MINORITY with lawyers trying to tell the majority what to do again. There are cool atheists around. SE Cupp, VDH among others. They're not trying to impose anything on anyone. Neither are Christians and Jews BTW. Muslims and other atheists? Well that's a different story.
...it is time AMERICA for a THIRD WAVE as in a resurgence of the TEA PARTY as an alternative to the GOP and the Democrats ."(period)
Agree 100% Time for TEA! I felt like this before the election, but kept quiet about it because I didn't want to take away from our main goal of removing the Usurper, Conman 'n Thief from Our House. But if we are to do this... Then the SOONER the BETTER! We need a lot of time to get it all set up in time for 2014 and especially 2016!
this is just another leftard front group. Notice they never sued the IRS previously for liberal black churches, or any liberal churches for that matter politicking from the pulpit which they have been doing for decades.
As per usual every single thing with the left is some grievance divide and conquer group. Also take as look at Barry Lynn, the head of that group, because he is Satan himself.
There is no such thing as a seperation of religious beliefs and politics
Often claimed is that a Pastor can't speak of politics in church or they will lose tax exemptions
This is not true. The restriction is on official poltical campaigns. who would make a church property their headquarters
Wow those Black Liberation Churchs in Chicago had better watch out, Obama's brown shirts are knockin on their doors. Oh never mind it will only be conservative mostly white churchs that have to worry about this.
Paraphrasing my pastor 9 days before the election, he said if the IRS or anyone else thinks that I will remain silent because they give me some perceived tax advantages, they can take those tax advantages and shove them ... (he stopped and apologized for seeming to be vulgar) ... He said 'I will not be silenced when the very soul of the nation is at risk.'
Because polygamy, marrying off children, and believing that an angel led Joseph Smith (who was con artist) to a nearby hill, where he dug up a pair of golden plates from which he translated the Book of Mormon, then lost before he could show anyone, that when Jesus returns to Earth, he will first go to Jerusalem and then to Missouri, and encourages racism (just to name a few) is a much better direction for the "soul" of America to go in...
Uhhhh, isn't Media Matters a tax exempt organization too? If liberals want to go down this rabbit hole the sword should fall both ways.
Let them start with a certain church in Chicago and it's alliances. The Left's inconsistency and intolerance is mind boggling!
First of all, telling people to vote Biblical principals is not politicking; that's a moral issue which is what religions are supposed to do. However, there is a church here, full of Obama supporters, where the minister talks partisan politics, ie, Republicans are bad and Democrats are good. To me, this is politics.
How do you think this country was founded? Honestly, these jerks have no clue how or why we declared independence from Britain.
Just another of the devil's rants against the Church of Jesus Christ. Jesus said "the gates of hell" would not prevail against His Church (Matt 16:18) and they won't! Time to put on the full Armor of God as written in Ephesians 6 and stand "strong in the Lord and in the power of His might".
This is a fight that needs to be had. The constitution does NOT "free us from religion" as so many fervently believe.
"The ad, which showed a photo of Rev. Graham, urged Americans to vote along biblical principles."
Suggesting voting along biblical principles is NOT endorsing a particular candidate or a party. This will go nowhere.
oh, they understand alright, they just refuse to accept it. That's why they are fighting against it.
Exactly. This is the level we are at now, that you can't have 'free speech' as an organization unless you pay for it. (Forget the fact that if you are leftist, no one says a thing...)
The FFR group has twisted the constitution a full 180, where the constitution actually states that the government can't mess with religion, they now are saying that religion cannot have ANYTHING to do with government.
I'll be watching this with interest.
In exchange for the receipt of tax-exempt status, I.R.C. § 501(c)(3) absolutely prohibits churches and other tax-exempt organizations from campaigning for or against a candidate for public office. If a church participates or interferes, directly or indirectly, in any political campaign for or against any candidate for public office by publishing and distributing certain written material or making oral statements regarding the candidate, then a church can lose its tax-exempt status for violating the campaigning ban. I.R.C. § 1.501(c)(3)-1(c)(3)(iii). Quite simply courts have interpreted 501(c)(3) to ban any degree of participation or intervention in a campaign for public office. Ass’n of the Bar of N.Y. v. Comm'r of Internal Revenue, 858 F.2d 876, 879 (2d Cir. 1988).
I know the law, the point is that it is patently unconstitutional, specifically as it is being used on Churches.
As for how this is selectively enforced, keep in mind that most of the major unions claim non-profit status with the IRS to avoid corporate taxes.
...it is a cruel irony that the unions rail against the greedy corporations who extort money from the people, when the union itself is a tax-dodging corporation working to enrich its executives at the expense of a hostage consumer base.
No one should be surprised... Obama made this fashionable.
Evil is on the march. My church spoke out against Obama and I'm proud of them for doing it. I support a church that will tell the whole truth on any subject.
I will fight evil and atheistic entities who try to harm Christian groups or the church... and that includes the ACLU.
Keep fighting the good fight.
Obama, the "alpha and the omega." He is a disgrace and anyone who voted for him is brainless.
Comment Policy: Please read our new comment policy before making a comment. In short, please be respectful of others and do not engage in personal attacks. Otherwise we will revoke your comment privileges.