Posted on 08/20/2009 3:59:44 AM PDT by IbJensen
The Internal Revenue Service has told members of the Coalition for Life of Iowa they would have to give up their 1st Amendment rights in order to be recognized as a non-profit organization, according to a complaint being pursued by members of the Thomas More Society.
The organization incorporated in 2004 as a not-for-profit under Iowa law and has been operating strictly within the guidelines for groups set up for religious, educational and charitable purposes, a letter sent to the IRS last week said.
"As detailed in its narrative, the Coalition for Life carries out its tax-exempt work by sponsoring educational forums and coordinating with other like-minded groups to educate the public and otherwise promote sanctity of life principles," the letter continues.
"The Coalition is aware that from time to time, individuals who may or may not be involved with the Coalition gather for prayer outside of a Planned Parenthood facility. These gatherings are consistently small (ten or fewer people), peaceful, not in any way disrupting, and consist solely of silent and spoken prayers," the lawyer wrote.
However, an IRS agent then contacted the Coalition, through its president Susan Martinek, demanding to know whether the group "engaged in any 'picketing' or 'protest' activities at Planned Parenthood.
You then asked Ms. Martinek to have all Coalition Board members sign a statement that the Coalition will not 'picket' or 'protest' outside of Planned Parenthood or similar organizations and will not 'organize' others to do so," the law firm's letter said.
(Excerpt) Read more at wnd.com ...
There are two words to describe the Obama administration and the complicit weasels who have infected our congress: EVIL and DANGEROUS!
I think the IRS pretty much takes the buckshot approach when it comes to implementing intimidation and extortion programs.
Obama is getting ready to use the progressive churches to convince their members to pass Obamacare.
But that’s all OK, because it is Obama doing it.
And Sarah Palin is the only politician brave enough to describe Obama’s policy as evil and dangerous.
its enough to make your head explode.
Hmmm, are NOW, Naral and Planned Parenthood non-profit organizations? They promote abortions - how is that different from the flip side? The St. Thomas More lawyers will slam these IRS clowns...
Yep, and once the government has control over Hospitals, religious speech and symbols in Hospitals will be effectively outlawed.
Just think if they pass healthcare and the IRS”jack booted thugs” are part of the enforcement team.
According to the Thomas More Society website, there is an update that says "UPDATE: VICTORY! IRS AGREES TO ISSUE 501(C)(3) LETTER WITHOUT DELAY!
Considering that the WND article is dated the 20th, there's no excuse.
Figures. Thanks for the update.
>>>IRS tells pro-lifers to give up 1st Amendment; Requires affirmation they will not ‘protest’
World Net Daily progressively (pardon the term) slips further into Batboy territory. Whatever limitations the ORGANIZATION may be subject to qualify for tax exempt status, that doesn’t apply to the individuals. As individuals they can do what they wish. And the organization itself doesn’t have to be tax exempt if that would be too burdensome to their mission.
World Net naturally doesn’t explore whether the IRS interpretation of the rules is correct or incorrect as a matter of law. That would be work. And maybe not lend itself to bogeyman stories. Just the usual hype.
That they would play this sort of manipulative game so regularly is a pretty good indication of the low regard they have for their readers.
This is the same tactics the IRS - the “non-political” IRS used under Clinton to harrass Christian churches and organizations.
“EVIL and DANGEROUS!”
Will become:
EVIL and DEADLY!
The elimination of the IRS would be a great leap forward for American mankind, not to mention what would happen to the economy.
And what's more, in a recent unscientific, purely haphazard poll she was shown to be the leading cause of the newly described syndrome labeled “Liberal Exploding Head Syndrome.” She was almost twice as likely to cause a liberal’s head to explode as the next nearest cause. She's almost homeopathic in her ability to get them to detonate.
Too bad she's not attractive. What a hag. Hurts my eyes just to look at her. </sarc>
Yup! She has it all!
By relinquishing thier tax-exemt status they could see a 1/3 of their resources taken by fed, state, and local gov. which could then be used, by the govs, to contradict their statements and positions.
Now the IRS is being used to force political correctness on people. The IRS is more powerful than the FBI. The IRS can simply take all your money, without any jury trial. All the FBI can do is put you in jail for life, but you will have the benefit of a jury trial.
I clicked the link on the article and it’s dated July 9th.
But, the only WND stuff I really pay attention to are editorials and a few things that Bob Unruh puts out (a lot of the stuff he’s done on euthanasia has actually come from FR).
The agent should simply be listened to and ignored
Why don’t conservatives file lawsuit on issues like this?
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