Posted on 09/27/2006 6:18:29 PM PDT by CTposterBoy
Question: What two words does a blackmailer fear most? Answer: “Go ahead!” Once a blackmailer’s ammunition is gone, so is the threat, as long as the victim is willing to incur the consequences. As our government’s most abusive pit pull, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), continues to bully, threaten, and oppress churches of all faiths in our country while waving the carrot of “tax exemption” in the faces of church leaders, it is high time that the persecuted faiths have their “Epiphany,” and, in unison, tell Uncle Sam where else he can put that carrot. Davy vs. Goliath aside, there is, after all, strength in numbers.
A ludicrous state law in Pennsylvania forbids preachers in their churches from decrying the practice of homosexuality in sermons, under penalty of a “hate crime.” An Episcopal church in Pasadena, California is under IRS investigation for preaching anti-war rhetoric near the 2004 election. An anti-abortion group lost its tax exemption when it posted an anti-abortion ad in a Catholic newspaper that included a vague inference to John Kerry.
The crux of the issue on the surface seems to be that the IRS condones churches advocating on issues, but prohibits them from specifically campaigning for, or directly advocating for or against specific political candidates by name. The Episcopal Church in question denies mentioning names. The anti-abortion group made a vague inference to a name, and connected it to the abortion issue. Pennsylvania preachers don’t even have to mention a name. All they have to do is preach against a particular politically correct, but deviate and grave sin, and those shepherds are suddenly criminals. The real problem at hand seems not to be the IRS regulations, but the interpretation of them, by either, or both sides of the argument.
My own mother recently razzed me that I have “senior moments.” Fearing I have had another one, I again referred to one of my trusty copies of the US Constitution, thinking that maybe there was some fine print somewhere in the First Amendment that I may have missed or forgotten, but alas, my still very “junior” mind proved to be as keen as usual! The section of the First Amendment that speaks to religious freedom still says: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”
Continued at Radiofree West Hartford
501c3 has dummied any and all churches that have glommed on to the IRS madness; that is, except for black churches that can not only have politicians preach from their pulpit, but will pass the basket for donations.
Because of the 501c3 rulings, the churches now are corporation churches that speak no ill about 1) abortion, 2) homosexuality, 3) homosexual marriages, 4) illigitimate children, 5) etc.
If you speak anything about these topics, they scream "politics!" But if you're in congress and talk about them they yell "Religion!" Which is it?
Who in the world dreamed up this extreme attack on the 1st Ammendment? And what can we do about it?
The dirtly little secret is that churches are automatically considered tax exempt organizations, even withot applying for 501c3 status. It is only when they apply for 501c3 status does the IRS gain control over them. Since the founding of this country, Churches tax exemption was considered part of the first amendment protection. LBJ wrote the law that made this consitionally protected right and put it quasi under the authority of the IRS.
The writer of this article should re-read the 503(c) rules regarding the tax-exempt application of a church or other organization receiving the tax-exempt status. It says that the entity has to avoid political activities.
We are a law-abiding nation. If one doesn't like the law, go to court or have Congress amend it.
Churches need to refuse all government money, so as to be completely free of federal control and regulations.
This is a very important matter---do they want freedom to preach the truths of God's Word or will they sell out to the government/money?
LBJ, after Churches attacked him. He wrote this law under the guise he was trying to protect Churches, but in reality he knew he was putting the Church under the control of the government.
Churches have every right to keep the tax exemption and to preach all of the above topics.
Churches don't get any money. Their tax-free status was always considered a Constitutionally protected right. Now I doubt if courts would rule that way because the Consitution has been flipped upsidedown on this issue.
Absolutely. And IMO, Churches have the right to say who to vote for if they wish. First Amendment rights for churches should be absolute unless they are advocating harming someone.
Even if the IRS takes away a church's exemption letter, there is already case law that the church would still retain its tax-exempt status. There is a difference between the tax-exempt letter being sent back, but still having a status of tax-exempt, at least when it comes to churches. They lose their letter, not their status. It's sounds funny but that is what it is.
Churches pre-date the country, they have always been tax exempt and will continue to be.
Now christian groups that are not churches, if they lose their tax exempt letter, then they have truly lost their tax exempt status. It works this way for non-church religious groups because they are not a church.
"Churches have every right to keep the tax exemption and to preach all of the above topics."
The past two pastors at our church were told emphatically that they cannot and better not endorse anyone for political office from the pulpit. They should be able to say ANYTHING THEY WANT from the pulpit, and the government should stay out of it.
Freedom of speech--all gone!
If they want to keep their tax exemption, I think they have to follow federal guidelines, don't they?
In other words, if they don't want to hire a homosexual preacher who has applied, can they refuse on those grounds and keep their exempt status?
Christians obey God, not man/government (when the government contradicts the Word of God).
According to the law, Churches are automatically exempt.
Yes, I know they don't get money. I was referring to their tax exemption...but didn't make that clear.
I don't think many churches would have a real problem with paying their taxes as levied by the IRS they would be like any business with a gross income less expenses of keeping the doors open. Most churches I have attended struggle to meet these expenses thus would end up paying little to no tax. Where they would get hammered is by local property taxes as many sit on very valuable pieces of real estate.
The great fear by the atheists has always been the church will intrude upon government. But the truth is that the church needs to be vigilant in respect to government. The late Dr Gene Scott familar to those from California and C-Band satellite dishes will remember that he preached against taking the deduction for church giving as his church supposedly did not comply with the requirements of achieving the proper tax status. One could argue that he did so for his own enrichment, but the logic and principle upon which his arguments were based were quite sound irregardless of how you might view his motivations.
That is the way it is, but I am afraid there are courts today that would not rule this way. Church tax-exemption was always considered a Constitutionally protected right. LBJ created a law to try to turn that Consitutionally protected right into a right granted by law. Now even many conservatives think government should have control over church's tax-exempt status, which in effect gives the government control over the establishment of religion.
If the church is/was incorporated for the specific purpose of establishing a church, holding services...etc.. (These purposes thoughtfully word-smithed into the original incorporation)... then parishioners donations remain charitable exempt "by definition"....
The 501(c)3 becomes unnecessary... taking that hammer out of the hands of the IRS...
According to a CPA friend...
(I do not have the code section and citation at my fingertips.....sorry)
But that is the Church's money, and the government has no right to tax Churches under any circumstances. One nation under God. Taxing churches puts the nation over God.
"According to the law, Churches are automatically exempt."
Well then, the Churches must be back-slid, because they sure have gone silent on many issues.
I'd like to hear strong preaching again from the pulpits all over America against abortion, against homosexuality, against drunkenness, and other sins which God mentions in His Word.
But that tax-emption may be weakening the voice of many preachers/churches.
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