Are churches looking for a showdown with the IRS?

[Uhtrinity]

Congress passed the laws over 50 years ago. 10 second Google search:

http://www.irs.gov/uac/Charities,-Churches-and-Politics


From the link, prime example:

A definitive court case on the issue of free speech and political expression is Branch Ministries Inc. versus Rossotti. In that case, the court upheld the constitutionality of the ban on political activity. The court rejected the plaintiff church's allegations that it was being selectively prosecuted because of its conservative views and that its First Amendment right to free speech was being infringed.
The court wrote: "The government has a compelling interest in maintaining the integrity of the tax system and in not subsidizing partisan political activity, and Section 501(c)(3) is the least restrictive means of accomplishing that purpose."

 

[BoomerD]

Please answer my question.

What grants a government agency the ability to curb rights?

You always seem to justify upholding rights, so why the flip-flop? Why all of a sudden are you for restricting political speech?




Those restrictions are supposed to help protect the public.




I figure churchs are going to bring the irs to the supreme court.

Such restrictions are a clear violation of political speech.

No one is trying to restrict the churches right on political speech...they just have to pay taxes like any one else if they want to play in that arena...

https://www.nonprofitrisk.org/library/articles/How_to_Lose_Your_Tax_Exempt_Status.shtml

How to Lose Your 501(c)(3) Tax Exempt Status (Without Really Trying)
It’s easy for a nonprofit organization to maintain its tax exempt status—and can be just as easy to lose it.
Each year, the IRS revokes the tax-exempt status of more than 100 501(c)(3) organizations. Organizations recognized as exempt from federal income tax under this section of the Internal Revenue Code include private foundations as well as churches, educational institutions, hospitals, and many other types of public charities.
But these organizations can maintain their tax-exempt status if they heed the rules in six areas:
Private benefit/inurement
Lobbying
Political campaign activity
Unrelated business income (UBI)
Annual reporting obligation
Operation in accord with stated exempt purpose(s)

3. POLITICAL ACTIVITY
All section 501(c)(3) organizations are prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate running for public office. The prohibition applies to all campaigns (federal, state and local level). “Political campaign intervention includes any and all activities that favor or oppose one or more candidates for public office,” said Crom, who speaks to non-profit organizations on a regular basis about tax-compliance issues. “The prohibition extends beyond candidate endorsements.”
Contributions to political campaign funds or public statements of position (verbal or written) made by or on behalf of an organization in favor of, or in opposition to, any candidate for public office clearly violate the prohibition on political campaign intervention.
Section 501(c)(3) organizations may engage in some activities to promote voter registration, encourage voter participation, and provide voter education, but they can’t engage in activities that favor or oppose any candidate for public office. Whether an activity is political campaign intervention depends on all the facts and circumstances.
“The political campaign intervention prohibition is not intended to restrict free expression on political matters by leaders of organizations speaking for themselves as individuals,” said Crom. “Nor are leaders prohibited from speaking about important issues of public policy. However, for their organizations to remain tax exempt under section 501(c)(3), leaders cannot make partisan comments in official organization publications or at official functions of the organization.”

 

[fskimospy]

Please answer my question.

What grants a government agency the ability to curb rights?

You always seem to justify upholding rights, so why the flip-flop? Why all of a sudden are you for restricting political speech?

You're just nonsensically babbling now. The government has the ability to restrict rights. This is civics 101. You're asking for special privileges to be immune from taxation without any restrictions.

If you want special rights and privileges you're going to need to justify them to the rest of us and maybe the rest of society will decide to be nice to you and grant them.

 

[Texashiker]

You're just nonsensically babbling now. The government has the ability to restrict rights.

So you should have no problem with voter ids.

If the government can restrict what someone talks about concerning the government, you should have no problem restricting voting rights.

 

[ivwshane]

Last I checked the IRS rules around tax exemption (which says church's can't endorse politicians) is the law and I remember a certain idiot poster here saying, "it's the law, deal with it".

So Texashiker, it's the law, deal with it you dumb bitch

 

[HomerJS]

In light of corporation are people and money equates with speech I would put this far down on the worry list.

 

[Texashiker]

No one is trying to restrict the churches right on political speech...they just have to pay taxes like any one else if they want to play in that arena...

King john tried that and there was a revolt which resulted in the Magna Carta.

For a 1,000 years churchs have been exempt from taxation. This is grounded in old english law, which our system is based on.

 

[fskimospy]

So you should have no problem with voter ids.

If the government can restrict what someone talks about concerning the government, you should have no problem restricting voting rights.

More nonsensical babbling.

Whether or not a government CAN restrict a right does not mean that it SHOULD.

Seriously, you can't be this stupid. What is wrong with you?

 

[thraashman]

There are TH threads that don't have an idiotic premise?

None that I've ever seen. But I'm sure he'd be willing to pay the tax to post some of the most idiotic ones.

The irs is putting certain conditions on the freedom of political speech. In essence the ir is saying if you do this, you lose that.

Rights are not a bargaining chip.

There is not right to tax exemption. How are you not getting this? Tax exemption is a benefit being given to religious organizations on the condition that they adhere to certain behavior. If they choose to not adhere to that behavior they fail to maintain their conditions that give them tax exempt status. It seriously can't be this hard for you to understand. If you have a contract with someone and you fail to hold up your end, the other party no longer has to hold up their end.

Essentially you're expecting that religious organizations should get paid for work they refuse to do.

There is no possible way you can be this stupid and not have been institutionalized as a danger to yourself and others yet.

There's a thought actually. Are they letting you post this from the asylum?

 

[Texashiker]

Seriously, you can't be this stupid. What is wrong with you?

I am wondering what is wrong with you that all of a sudden you approve of restricting rights?

Maybe you just approve of restricting rights when those rights relate to conservatives?

 

[BoomerD]

The OP should join this group...and make donations:

http://taxthechurches.org/

 

[fskimospy]

I am wondering what is wrong with you that all of a sudden you approve of restricting rights?

Maybe you just approve of restricting rights when those rights relate to conservatives?

You're a moron.

 

[Texashiker]

There is not right to tax exemption. How are you not getting this?

Churches have been exempt from paying taxes for 1,000 years. This is old english common law.

What dont you understand and that?

Tax exemption is a benefit being given to religious organizations on the condition that they adhere to certain behavior.

When are rights based on behavior?

We let people on welfare vote, right?
We let gays marry, right?
We let gays adopt, right?

Behavior does not define when someone can exercise their rights.

 

[Uppsala9496]

Please answer my question.

What grants a government agency the ability to curb rights?

/SNIP

I think you need to read up on some age of enlightenment social/political contracts.
Here is a starter:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_contract

Hobbes
Locke
Rousseau

All three of them will do a far better job exploring your question above than I ever will.

 

[Texashiker]

You're a moron.

Please answer the question. Why the flip-flop on rights?

You are all for gay rights, abortion rights,,, whatever immoral behavior there is under the sun.

But when it comes to freedom of speech and conservatives, you get bent out of shape?

The government does not have a right to restrict political speech in private settings.

 

[fskimospy]

When are rights based on behavior?

We let people on welfare vote, right?
We let gays marry, right?
We let gays adopt, right?

Behavior does not define when someone can exercise their rights.

Oh good! That means I can go yell fire in a crowded theater because behavior doesn't define when I can exercise my rights.

 

[fskimospy]

The government does not have a right to restrict political speech in private settings.

Of course it does. Civics 101.

You should really stop posting in this thread until you are able to find a local high school or community college with a civics class that you can sit in on. You have a lot to learn about how our country works.

 

[soundforbjt]

Please answer the question. Why the flip-flop on rights?

You are all for gay rights, abortion rights,,, whatever immoral behavior there is under the sun.

But when it comes to freedom of speech and conservatives, you get bent out of shape?

The government does not have a right to restrict political speech in private settings.

"it's the law, deal with it"

 

[Texashiker]

Of course it does. Civics 101.

You should really stop posting in this thread until you are able to find a local high school or community college with a civics class that you can sit in on. You have a lot to learn about how our country works.

By revoking tax exempt status, the government is punishing people for certain protected activities.

The government does not have the ability to punish people for exercising their rights.

"it's the law, deal with it"

Hopefully is will not be law for long.

I am surprised the ACLU has not already taken this to the supreme court.

 

[thraashman]

When are rights based on behavior?

We let people on welfare vote, right?
We let gays marry, right?
We let gays adopt, right?

Behavior does not define when someone can exercise their rights.

Tax exemption is NOT A RIGHT

 

[WelshBloke]

Tax exemption is NOT A RIGHT

It's probably best if everyone just uses the above quote in reply to any more of THs posts from now on.

 

[fskimospy]

By revoking tax exempt status, the government is punishing people for certain protected activities.

The government does not have the ability to punish people for exercising their rights.

Of course it does. Civics 101. You do not have a right to a tax exemption.

It's the law, deal with it.

 

[Texashiker]

Of course it does. Civics 101. You do not have a right to a tax exemption.

It's the law, deal with it.

You should have no problem with a poll tax, gay tax, transgender tax, and a special abortion tax.

Taxation can not be based on exercising of ones rights.

 

[cubby1223]

By revoking tax exempt status, the government is punishing people for certain protected activities.

The government does not have the ability to punish people for exercising their rights.

*sigh* Tax exempt status is a privilege in exchange for agreeing to a specific set of rules. If you choose to defy those rules, you may do so, you just no longer are allowed special privilege.

 

[fskimospy]

You should have no problem with a poll tax, gay tax, transgender tax, and a special abortion tax.

Taxation can not be based on exercising of ones rights.

Tax exemption is NOT A RIGHT