Posted on 11/09/2017 8:20:52 PM PST by EdnaMode
President Trump has thrown his support behind removing the Church of Scientology's tax-exempt status, according to a HuffPost report.
Twitter messages from a Trump family friend and top official at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) claimed that Trump and his family "couldn't agree more" that the church should lose its tax-exempt status.
"From The moment I saw your series I told President Trump & his family we needed to revoke their tax exempt status. They couldn’t agree more, but please don’t publicize that yet," Lynne Patton wrote to actress Leah Remini in the messages obtained by HuffPost. “This is going to get done in the next 4 years or I’ll die trying. Knock on wood!”
Patton is a longtime friend and business associate of the Trump family who has worked with the Trumps since 2009. Last year, she spoke in support of Trump at the Republican National Convention in June.
Remini, who starred on the hit series "King of Queens," is behind the Emmy Award-winning show “Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath.” Season two of the series is now airing. The show is a documentary examining the Church of Scientology and its alleged abuse of critics, which Remini left in 2013.
“I look forward to doing my part to help put an end to this ongoing nightmare and blatant misuse of our IRS rules & regulations," Patton wrote to Remini. "I want to do more research on Scientology’s history with the IRS, to date, so that I can better understand what tactics have been applied and where we can pick up."
It is unclear if Patton ever communicated with the IRS, and a request for comment from HuffPost was not immediately answered. Experts told HuffPost that such an urging from an administration official would likely be illegal.
“For the White House or any administration official to try and influence who the IRS targets, for whatever reason, is wrong and could result in a violation of the law,” said former general counsel of the Federal Election Commission Larry Noble. “The IRS must make these decisions independently without any influence by the White House or administration officials.”
The IRS website states that “the IRS may begin a church tax inquiry only if an appropriate high-level Treasury official reasonably believes, on the basis of facts and circumstances recorded in writing, that an organization claiming to be a church or convention or association of churches may not qualify for exemption.”
Not to mention that churches at least in theory do not make a profit. They may have extra money for a building fund, but for the most part whatever comes in, goes out.
Granted the spiritual aspects have been vastly overshadowed by the lust for money* and power, but they are there buried at its core.
*See also the policy letter titled "Money Motivation"...
You mean like the money I "donate" to fund SNAP, WIC, Section 8 etc?...
This cult should never have received it in the first place.
Not total. Most of The Tech is capable of producing remarkable relief and increases in awareness.
But it, like any other path, needs honest agents. Those are few and very far between in the organization as it it currently run.
Most should have been much.
With *my* tax plan they wouldn’t. My plan would be to COMPLETELY eliminate the income tax and replace it with a national sales tax. Everybody pays - citizens, illegals, tourists - everybody.
But it, like any other path, needs honest agents. Those are few and very far between in the organization as it it currently run.
As a former member myself, I can attest to the accuracy of that statement.
If you would include equivalent taxes of new goods purchased elsewhere and then imported...
I totally agree, for the reasons you've stated and many more.
The national sales tax is the brightest idea I've ever seen, for funding a government.
Islam too - of course. Duh. It’s freakin’ cult.
Good points. What the dems will say is — hey who are we to judge what is or is not a religion? The dems will just tax all of them and let God sort it out.
Absolutely correct. As a Canadian, not going to comment on laws, but it is a cult. Had a good friend die over medical issues totally related to decisions he made after consulting with CHURCH OFFICIALS” His 2 children and wife were left pennyless. Sadly, we have lost touch but last time I saw them it was a hot mess.
Who or what is worshipped by Scientology? The only God in Scientology is yourself. They worship the creation, not the creator.
Not quite. At least Scientology recognizes that a God exists, although that is just about the limit of it.
No one asserts Buddhism isn’t a religion and as far as I know it doesn’t even meet that minimal requirement.
they got there tax exempt status through bribery and blackmail
Exactly....
Yes, and investigate why the Clinton administration reinstituted their tax-exempt status after the FBI went after them in the 1980s.
Plus, where the heck is Mrs. Mscavage?
Is she locked up somewhere? If so, then she needs to be released.
Is she dead?
We deserve to have proof one way or the other.
At least with church donations you have somewhat a choice where it won’t go. Someone’s abortion, for example.
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