And no doubt there are plenty on the left who would love to see even more churches PACIfied.
The excise tax is the most ergregious part.
Not only must the church pay back-taxes (with interest and possible penalties) on all of its earnings going back several years, the IRS also slaps an additional 10% "excise" tax against the church's future offering-collections at the plate that lasts for up to three additional years. Outrageous.
Let them pay taxes and talk all they want.
Seen this one? Ties in nicely with your "Vote Early, Vote Often" thread.
The new First Amendment:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, aside from prohibited activities; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, unless John McCain says so; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, except for when they shouldn't, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances, so long as the content of the petition is approved by the Attorney General and the courts.
A review of the IRC 501 c-3
Click on:
http://72.14.207.104/search?q=cache:JTl709ypEZMJ:fpc.state.gov/documents/organization/24677.pdf+congressional+law+for+tax+free+churches&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=4
Thr priniciple you seem to have missed is: a church that attends to its members' spiritual life is entitled to a tax exemption.
A church that takes up politics as an activity is not.
There's a difference between telling your flock what Jesus said to the moneylenders, to Pilate, or to the faithful at the Sermon on the Mount, and telling your flock what candidate Jesus would oppose.
I seem to recall some famous religious cat saying "My Kingdom is not of this World." If pastors want to take up the worldly burden, they can jolly well pay the worldly tax like the rest of us sinners.
d.o.l.
Criminal Number 18F
"I went to sleep in America and woke up in the Soviet Union!"
Did you feel the same when Kennedy was being promoted by the RC's in 1960? This is the very reason for the First Amendment. IMHO
Oh poor babies. They don't want to see anyone voting Republican so they figure they can oust them this way. I'm sure this will hold true for minority churches as well?
Black Churches exempted of course...
Ping to read later
"I went to sleep in America and woke up in the Soviet Union!"
I agree with you. Most churches do sign an agreement with the IRS though, 501c3 I think, and that's part of the deal. If they wanted to pay their taxes they could say what they wanted. When you lie down with dogs....
Did Jeremiah Wright’s congregation get a notice?
The Riverside Church in the City of New York, one of the nation’s most prominent and socially progressive Christian churches, is pleased to make a significant investment commitment to a social justice-based investment strategy intended to address the economic and social drivers of inequality in the country’s most neglected urban areas. The flash-points of Ferguson, Baltimore, Staten Island and Chicago gave new impetus to the imperative of community reinvestment as a sustainable asset class in Riverside’s balanced portfolio. . .Built by John D. Rockefeller Jr. and currently led by The Rev. Dr. Amy Butler, the interracial, interdenominational, and international church has long been a forum for important civic and spiritual leaders, including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Nelson Mandela, President Clinton, the Dalai Lama, and countless others. Visit www.trcnyc.org or find us on social media to learn more about our rich history and the latest news and events.
Katrina Anniversary To Be Remembered With Prayers And Special Guests
Senator Hillary Clinton will join the congregation in prayer and remeberance of Hurricane Katrina, one year later, during this Sunday's worship service.
Maranatha - L G B T Ministry of The Riverside Church NYC
Attacks on Obama Administration’s LGBT policy shames Christianity
Communist Led “Peace Movement” to Target US Military Budget
Guided by the Communist Party USA, the U.S. “peace movement” is entering a new phase.
The struggles against the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan will be de-emphasized, while focus will shift to a broad based campaign to cut U.S. military spending.
The Communists plan to exploit public concern over economic problems, to pressure the Obama administration to hugely cut back on defense spending, weapons systems and overseas commitments.
"[Communist Party USA vice chair, Judith] LeBlanc signals that the “peace movement’s” new direction will begin with a major campaign. Significantly May 1 [2010!], will be the kickoff date and New York’s far left Riverside Church will be the founding venue."
"There will be people from every continent here to participate in the non-governmental organization gatherings that will be going on, with an international conference happening at Riverside Church from April 30 to May 1 [communist "May Day"], and then marching on May 2."
--Judith LeBlanc, vice-chair Communist Party USA, 'national field organizer for Peace Action, the country’s largest grassroots peace organization with 100,000 members across the country', also co-founder of "United for Peace and Justice"
IPS’s [Institute For Policy Studies] Washington, DC headquarters quickly became a resource center for national reporters and a place for KGB agents from the nearby Soviet embassy to convene and strategize. Cora Weiss headed one of the IPS's most successful forays -- into Riverside Church in Manhattan. She was invited there in 1978 by the Reverend William Sloane Coffin to run the church's Disarmament Program, which sought to consolidate Soviet nuclear superiority in Europe -- in the name of "peace." In 1982 Weiss helped organize the largest pro-disarmament demonstration ever held. Staged in New York City, the rally was attended by a coalition of communist organizations. During her decade-long tenure at Riverside, which became home to the National Council of Churches, Weiss regularly received Russian KGB agents, Sandinista friends, and Cuban intelligence agents. Weiss became infamous for her role in the psychological warfare conducted against U.S. prisoners of war held in the infamous "Hanoi Hilton" during the Vietnam War.
The Liberation News Service, which is a news source for hundreds of "alternative" publications nationwide (with antiwar, Marxist-oriented perspectives), was founded in 1967 with IPS assistance."
[lots more at link...]
http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/groupProfile.asp?grpid=6991