First of all the IRS has taken no action. The only significance of this story is se extreme “watch dog” group is alleging violations. Nothing was said that the government is even considering action.A watchdog group has asked the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to investigate the US Conference of Catholic Bishops for engaging in prohibited political activity in violation of its protected tax status.
Read report at: ekklesia.co.uk/node/17323
The IRS does a lot which seems to be unconstitutional. Siezing property without due process is one of them. If you need to go to court with them, THEY decide if they want you to go to DC, or if you may go to a more local court… and so on. State tax agencies are out of control, because so many states are broke. In California, the tax collector is a private company. Clerks on commission are empowered to freeze assets on “fishing expeditions”, as a negotiating tactic to squeeze money out of people, because the state is in such dire financial straits.You know, the IRS has never followed through on any tax exemption case against a church that they have started? As Taylor Swift would say, “Like - EVER”
The reason? The regulation is an unconstitutional infringement on the first amendment rights to free speech and freedom of religion. Whenever a church fights an investigation by the IRS into political activity, the IRS tries to settle and, if the church doesn’t back down, they quietly drop the case.
That’s why all of those protestant pastors endorsed candidates on that one Sunday a few weeks ago. They were trying to get an investigation started that could actually lead to a court case that could get litigated to the US Supreme Court. The IRS refuses to let that happen by never actually going to court.
So, investigate away. Nothing will come of it. AND, if anything does come of it, WE win.
In white Evangelical churches, 54% of pastors had urged their people to vote; of those who backed a candidate, 5% of the pastors chose Obama and 26% opted for Mitt Romney. In Catholic churches the figures were similar, with 46% of priests encouraging their parishioners to vote, 4% backing Obama, and 21% recommending a vote for Romney
Moreover, the IRS doesn’t take any enforcement action against churches or pastors they consider in violation. A warning letter is sent, and the matter ends there. This policy dates back at least four years.First of all the IRS has taken no action. The only significance of this story is se extreme “watch dog” group is alleging violations. Nothing was said that the government is even considering action.
Wait. Is that an official policy? Are you saying that a government agency has a specific policy that it won’t enforce their rules/laws? If so, why is there a rule there in the first place? Why don’t we just drop the play acting and just allow churches to endorse whomever they want?Moreover, the IRS doesn’t take any enforcement action against churches or pastors they consider in violation. A warning letter is sent, and the matter ends there. This policy dates back at least four years.
Just my opinion, but if they do we will see the rise of a large number of “Churches” that are simply fronts for Political Super-PACs. The First Church of Crossroads America, etc…Wait. Is that an official policy? Are you saying that a government agency has a specific policy that it won’t enforce their rules/laws? If so, why is there a rule there in the first place? Why don’t we just drop the play acting and just allow churches to endorse whomever they want?
Peace
Tim
It would be naive to think that will hold. There is no holding back now with Obama and so it begins, there will be a collision between Obama pro-abortion, pro-homosexual, pro-death control of the government and the Catholic Church.Moreover, the IRS doesn’t take any enforcement action against churches or pastors they consider in violation. A warning letter is sent, and the matter ends there. This policy dates back at least four years.
It is a confusing situation. A recent news article suggests that a 2009 court ruling may be involved, but it may just reflect a change in policy.Wait. Is that an official policy? Are you saying that a government agency has a specific policy that it won’t enforce their rules/laws? If so, why is there a rule there in the first place? Why don’t we just drop the play acting and just allow churches to endorse whomever they want?
For the past three years, the Internal Revenue Service hasn’t been investigating complaints of partisan political activity by churches, leaving religious groups who make direct or thinly veiled endorsements of political candidates unchallenged.
abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/irs-enforcing-rules-churches-politics-17633236The IRS monitors religious and other nonprofits on everything from salaries to spending, and that oversight continues. However, Russell Renwicks, a manager in the IRS Mid-Atlantic region, recently said the agency had suspended audits of churches suspected of breaching federal restrictions on political activity. A 2009 federal court ruling required the IRS to clarify which high-ranking official could authorize audits over the tax code’s political rules. The IRS has yet to do so.
None of the churches involved in previous pulpit Sunday events have received anything beyond a form letter from the I.R.S. thanking them for the tapes, Mr. Stanley said. “They haven’t done anything to clarify what the law is and what pastors can and can’t say,“ he said.
nytimes.com/2011/10/01/business/flouting-the-law-pastors-will-take-on-politics.html?pagewanted=all&_moc.semityn.www&_r=0Mr. Owens, the lawyer representing the Ohio churches, said that Ms. Lerner had told a meeting of state charity regulators in late 2009 that the agency was no longer doing such audits. “I have not heard of a single church audit since then,” Mr. Owens said.
Hey! I’ve been saying it for months: if they don’t knock it off they will lose their IRS status. I can’t imagine what took someone this long to ask for the investigation. The violations were blatant. Some churches actually had petitions for ballot measures in the narthex and the faithful were told to sign them as they left Mass. It’s been all over the news, so, srsly, don’t try to turn this into some big anti-religion conspiracy. The IRS should have done it without anyone complaining.…and so it begins.
Nor will they. The IRS came out with a statement on Friday, saying they do not have legal authority to do ANYTHING to Churches regardless of what they say from the pulpit. The watchdog group is spinning their wheels…at least for now.Why no investigation or complaint for pastors stumping for Obama in Churches?
Nothing will come from this. Bishops said you should not vote for somebody who supports homosexual marriage or abortion, they did not campaign for any candidate. No Church has lost tax exempt status for supporting or opposing political candidate
Refer to my post # 19Hey! I’ve been saying it for months: if they don’t knock it off they will lose their IRS status. I can’t imagine what took someone this long to ask for the investigation. The violations were blatant. Some churches actually had petitions for ballot measures in the narthex and the faithful were told to sign them as they left Mass. It’s been all over the news, so, srsly, don’t try to turn this into some big anti-religion conspiracy. The IRS should have done it without anyone complaining.