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.”
I also believe it can hold up in court.
Scientology I can't use the same argument.
Judge Learned Hand, the best Supreme Court justice who never was, said, (paraphrasing, the exact quote doesn't come to mind) 'neither this court, nor any other may sit in judgement of religion.'
BTW, The Romans decided that Christianity was a cult, not a religion. Does that make it right or wrong for an agent of the state to sit in judgement of religion?
Who decides what is an acceptable religion?
Better IMHO, that taxes be low, fair and fall equally on all, rich and poor, free and bond...
Fully agree, investigate and prosecute as you would any organization.
I believe you are correct.
Why should any organization be tax exempt?
I like the way you think.
I've got my asbestos underwear...
They only got it under Bill Clinton.
Not a religion.
The courts and the IRS say it is, are you a patriotic American who supports our laws or not?
Hint, what LEGAL authority does any agent of the government have to decide on matters of religion belief?
Second hint, "My country, right or wrong; if right, to be kept right; and if wrong, to be set right."
The question is how do we set it right?
Whatever works. It's not my place to tell you what does or doesn't work for you, nor yours for me.
UnwashedPeasant ~ First Amendment.
This first amendment?
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof"
Isn't it an violation to play favorites as to what is a religion, establishing what religions are legit and which aren't???
The establishment clause is violated every time any religious organization gets preferential treatment.
Me neither, nor should we.
We know a tree by its fruits. Treat religions as you would any other organization. If they commit crimes, the crimes should be punished as one would punish an Enron or a tobacco company, for their crimes and actions, not their beliefs, or lack thereof.
Well, it did work for witches...
LOL!!!! Best post of the week!
Income? are they destroying income (don't answer, rhetorical question!)
Commerce? (sales tax)
Productivity? (VAT taxes adding value at every level in the supply chain)
The power to tax IS the power to destroy, better that it fall equally on everyone, that no one, no person or organization can be targeted if all bear the burden equally.
It’s ok. Scientology is a scourge created by an alcoholic pervert
“The Tech” doesn’t exist...it has been proven to be a scam. If what you suggest is that the placebo effect is real I agree
At least mohammad wasn’t an alcoholic...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.