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This isn't about God
Goading churches into
defying federal tax laws
by Frederick Clarkson, Talk to Action
Excerpt: The Religious Right has long made abuse of the privilege of federal tax-exemption for churches and other non-profit organizations a political tool. While most of this goes on sub rosa, sometimes the movement organizes efforts to generate widespread civil disobedience, in hopes of making the law unenforceable.
This year is one of those times.
The Wall Street Journal reports that the Alliance Defense Fund, the premier religious right legal network wants to goad churches into a high profile test. But there may be more going on here than meets the eye. ...
The IRS rules, while detailed and understandably unable to cover every circumstance, are clear in principle:
"...all section 501(c)(3) organizations are absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office."
Any questions?
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Here's my comment on this, and I think it is a key point ...
Turn this issue around: What these churches are fighting for is not "religious freedom" but tax freedom. They want the money and the political power of preachers ruling over voters' ballots!
There is no reason why a "church" must be a "tax exempt corporation". If they want to say, "Vote for Bush" they are free to do so -- as long as they pay income taxes on donations and church business profits, or just not do it with church money and property, on their own time.
This isn't about God. It is about Mammon.
These "men of God" care
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more about the moolah than they want their "freedom" to endorse candidates from the pulpit. Power and money have intoxicated these people, and if there is a Hell, guess who is on the Fast Track?
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I see your point and agree that it's key. Pastor Hagee and the other charlatans already have the right to stand at their pulpits and endorse anyone they choose. What they don't have -- and what they want -- is to do that and still pay no taxes, and still lure their suckers by letting them know that their "tithes and offerings" are tax deductible.
But I'd take it one step further. I've always been a little unclear about what societal purpose is served when any church or religion is declared above and beyond paying tax. I'd be in favor of yanking the free ride from all churches and all religions.
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