IRS to investigate US bishops' conference over US election

  • Thread starter Thread starter lizardley
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
Dale_M said:
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.
Click to expand...
In view of the blatant disregard for rules (including the constitutional ones) and aggressive nature of this administration, somehow this just does not comfort me.
 
Orogeny said:
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
Click to expand...
That is an interesting thing about the executive branches of government. Enforcement is a prudential matter. In a world of limited resources, every police department, every city attorney, every DA, every AG, every governmental agency decides who is worth going after.

When Mr Obama took office, he instructed the Justice Department to enforce marijuana laws according to local standards, rather than to federal standards. Either he has changed that order privately, or someone in Justice has decided to ignore it, as the feds are going after marijuana users in places like California again.

And it is not just a resource issue. In San Francisco, it is unlikely that a sex party would be raided by police. In other places, it happens on occasion. Police enforcement depends on what the prosecuting authority will choose to prosecute. A cop won’t waste time on something when he or she knows there is no chance of a prosecution or conviction.
 
lakotak said:
I guess I missed something, but could you explain why it would be good for the Church to lose her tax exemption?
Click to expand...
Not good from a worldly perspective but not necessary …ever before, now or in the future…from a spiritual perspective.

You must believe it. I do.
 
Beautiful said:
Not good from a worldly perspective but not necessary …ever before, now or in the future…from a spiritual perspective.

You must believe it. I do.
Click to expand...
With the loss of tax exemptions, parishes would probably have to start closing because they could not support the ensuing taxes, especially poor one, how would this serve the physical or spiritual needs of the people that it would affect?It would be closing doors of opportunity for the faithful to come together and worship God as a community and diminish the presence of the Church of Christ within communities.
 
lakotak said:
With the loss of tax exemptions, parishes would probably have to start closing because they could not support the ensuing taxes, especially poor one, how would this serve the physical or spiritual needs of the people that it would affect?It would be closing doors of opportunity for the faithful to come together and worship God as a community and diminish the presence of the Church of Christ within communities.
Click to expand...
The Word of God will never be lost because of unpaid taxes. The Word of God always was, is and always will be! Amen!
 
Frankly, I’m worried that St. Michael’s Media (the lay apostolate founded by Michael Voris) will have its tax-exempt status revoked based on Voris’ endorsement of a certain candidate for President of the United States of America.
 
epan said:
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.

I would favor throwing out the entire tax code, and appointing a bipartisan group to simplify the tax code. Ease it in, in a way which would cause as little pain as possible over some time. But the US tax code really needs to be scrapped. I think that the IRS could be reduced in size by 90 percent, along with the number of accountants and tax attorneys that the tax code requires business to employ.

Part of reform would be a close look at this whole tax exempt status thing.

If nobody lost their tax exempt status due to earlier more direct political activity in other elections, which clearly appeared to violate the tax code, I doubt that anything will come of this… Unless it can be shown that financial contributions were made by some diocese, or that parishioners were directly encouraged to make donations to politicians.
Click to expand...
What would you say to a 17% flat tax with the first $50,000 tax free?
 
Maxirad said:
Frankly, I’m worried that St. Michael’s Media (the lay apostolate founded by Michael Voris) will have its tax-exempt status revoked based on Voris’ endorsement of a certain candidate for President of the United States of America.
Click to expand...
And if St. Michael Media lost tax exemption and closed shop because of financial hardship then the people of St. Michael Media could/would still be instruments of God. All ‘things’ are passing…including money, buildings and flesh. As we pass through this difficult time, I pray you and all others believe in The Father, The Son and Holy Spirit. As it was the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen!
 
Beautiful said:
The Word of God will never be lost because of unpaid taxes. The Word of God always was, is and always will be! Amen!
Click to expand...
I am still mystified as to why you would want the Church, and be very happy about it, to have an added burden of taxes. This does sound strange. Granted “the Word of God always was, is and always will be,” however, I cannot see God being happy that his houses of worship would be rapidly closing denying many, many of his flock his Word and the Eucharist because there is no physical Church in which a Mass can be celebrated that they can get to.
 
lakotak said:
I am still mystified as to why you would want the Church, and be very happy about it, to have an added burden of taxes. This does sound strange. Granted “the Word of God always was, is and always will be,” however, I cannot see God being happy that his houses of worship would be rapidly closing denying many, many of his flock his Word and the Eucharist because there is no physical Church in which a Mass can be celebrated that they can get to.
Click to expand...
There can be no hardship greater than imprisonment and then death for celebrating Mass…essentially martyrdom.
The physical Church is made of flesh and bones…not bricks and mortar.
Jesus Christ among us forever. Amen!
 
Beautiful said:
There can be no hardship greater than imprisonment and then death for celebrating Mass…essentially martyrdom.
The physical Church is made of flesh and bones…not bricks and mortar.
Click to expand...
Well each to his own. However, I do not share your enthusiasm for added financial burdens for the Church of Jesus Christ.
 
lakotak said:
Well each to his own. However, I do not share your enthusiasm for added financial burdens for the Church of Jesus Christ.
Click to expand...
Then embrace the enthusiasm of the One who loves you.
Even the hairs of your head have all been counted. Do not be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows. Luke 12:7
 
Maxirad said:
Frankly, I’m worried that St. Michael’s Media (the lay apostolate founded by Michael Voris) will have its tax-exempt status revoked based on Voris’ endorsement of a certain candidate for President of the United States of America.
Click to expand...
It’s not a church. Only churches are affected. Also, when did SMM endorse a presidential candidate? Also, SMM is not an approved apostolate.
 
Tighty_Whitey said:
It is my understanding that the IRS has issued a Statement that they will not invoke this rule. I’ll try to find a link but I won’t be able to post again for awhile. Btw, the title to his thread is unnecessarily inflammatory and misleading.
Click to expand...
Thanks for pointing out the differences between the title of this thread and the title of the actual article.
 
Orogeny said:
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
Click to expand...
The rule was put in place because, in one of Lyndon Johnson’s Senate races, a large group of Texas pastors preached against him.
 
I think what really upsets religious people is that the neither the IRS or anyone else really cares what priests or pastors say. Endorse away. No one is listening.
 
lizardley said:
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
Click to expand...
I will have to read this but I will say I have seen many violations of this. I have no problem with the Church telling up about appropriate teachings, giving us guidelines in that regard but when they all but name the candidate, make threats about someone going to hell or being barred from communion, and in some cases, actually telling you who to vote or not vote for, I say tax them all!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top