“Churches risk tax-exempt status when dabbling in politics”
. . . A church that took out newspaper ads criticizing President Bill Clinton in 1992 lost its federal tax exemption.
However, the Alliance Defense Fund, a national conservative legal organization, is pushing for churches to defy the IRS and speak out on election-related issues in September.
Tulsa tax attorney Phil Haney, who represents several churches and religious organizations, said that initiative may provide an interesting test case.
“I’ve seen some rumblings of that,” he said. “I suppose the tension here is between tax legislation and constitutional issues.” . . .
Haney said churches are virtually the only charities that do not have to go to the IRS for a tax-exempt designation.
He said that “Section 508″ churches can function as such without an IRS determination letter, which gives the federal agency no designation to revoke . . .
2 Comments
I seem to recall down thru the years Jesse Jackson being highlighted and applauded for going to ‘black’churchs and holding registration into the demoncrat party..and no body appeared to be upset by that action..wonder why this issue has been raised now..he asks while trying to cross the street against the light….
America was founded in the churches. Almost all of the great social changes began in the churches. It’s the IRS that should loose its exemption!