Churches taunt the IRS by violating 501-c laws on political activism

[Ziploc Surprise]

Pastor Jim Garlow will stand before congregants at his 2,000-seat Skyline Wesleyan Church in La Mesa, California, on Sunday, October 7, just weeks before the U.S. presidential and congressional elections, and urge his flock to vote for or against particular candidates.

He knows such pulpit pleading could endanger his church's tax-exempt status by violating IRS rules for a 501©(3) charitable organization. A charity can take a position on policy issues but cannot act "on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office." To cross that line puts the $7 million mega-church's tax break at risk.

Even so, Garlow not only intends to break the rules, he also plans to spend the next four months recruiting other pastors to do the same as part of Pulpit Freedom Sunday. On that day each year since 2008, ministers intentionally try to provoke the IRS. Some even send DVD recordings of their sermons to the agency.



http://bottomline.msnbc.msn.com/_news/20...o-far?lite

[Faith No More]

This really fucking pisses me off. Those fuckers won't be satisfied until we are living in a theocracy.

This part really pissed me off.

Participants want to force the matter to court as a freedom of speech and religion issue.

This is not a freedom of speech nor a freedom of religion issue. This is about them wanting to have their cake and eat it too. You want to spout political rhetoric from the pulpit? Pay some fucking taxes.

[Welsh cake]

Baiting them? What the hell is going on?

Someone wake up the IRS for goodness sake, or at least poke them with a stick to make sure they're not all dead.

[Mister Agenda]

The only way this ends is if the IRS actually starts taking away those tax-exempt statuses.

[Gambit]

I'm having a similar argument to this on my Facebook page. These assholes really need put in their place - they want a place in the processes of the land - that means all or nothing. It's the sneaky, bullying and underhanded tactics that really sicken me. They're the ultimate politicians.

[downbeatplumb]

With the amount of churches in america taking away all their tax exempt status might see you through the bad times.

[Ziploc Surprise]

Baiting them? What the hell is going on?

Someone wake up the IRS for goodness sake, or at least poke them with a stick to make sure they're not all dead.

They're not dead. Just this year they made deep cuts into the things I could deduct as a home business.

[Mister Agenda]

They need to refocus their attention, there's a lot more revenue to be gained from law-breaking churches.

[Welsh cake]

They're not dead. Just this year they made deep cuts into the things I could deduct as a home business.

Ah yes, attacking the economy and coming after local businesses to balance the deficient instead of giving us all a well deserved tax relief or break after the banks royally fucked up and caused global financial meltdown.

You're not alone, if that's any comfort.

You have the IRS, we have HMRC.

Self-serving fucking idiots.

[Thor]

He knows such pulpit pleading could endanger his church's tax-exempt status by violating IRS rules for a 501©(3) charitable organization.

How in the hell do churches qualify as "charitable organizations"? They're in the BUSINESS of selling religion! If I give money to the Cancer Society, I know my money is being used for cancer research. If I give my money to the Red Cross I know it's being used to help people displaced by disasters. If I give my money to a church.... I have no clue what it's being used for!