Taxing an Unfriendly Church

[jbfam4]

Taxing an Unfriendly Church
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/22/opinion/22tue3.html
Published: November 22, 2005

I.R.S. officials have said about 20 churches are being investigated for activities across the political spectrum that could jeopardize their tax status. The agency is barred by law from revealing which churches, but officials have said these targets were chosen by a team of civil servants, not political appointees, at the Treasury Department. The I.R.S. argues that freedom of religion does not grant freedom from taxes if churches engage in politics.

That should mean that the 2004 presidential campaign would be an extremely fertile field. While some churches allowed Democrats to speak from the pulpit, the conservative Christians last year mounted an especially intense - and successful - drive to keep President Bush in office. Some issued voter guides that pointedly showed how their own religion was allied with Mr. Bush's views. Several Roman Catholic bishops even suggested that a vote for John Kerry would be a mortal sin. Since the election, Republicans have held two openly political nationally televised revival meetings at churches to support Mr. Bush's judicial nominations.

[Jon8503]

1. Yeah right, somebody help me on this. I remember reading also

where the republican national committee got the membership lists of several of the right wing Church's so they could tap them for money, support and volunteer work. Wasn't that correct and if it is I sure as heck see a political and religious connection on that one for the IRS.

[acmejack]

2. File a complaint with the IRS!

We need to innudate the IRS with complaints! Here's how: http://www.irs.gov/compliance/enforcement/article/0,,id=106778,00.html

[ramapodem]

3. By reading this thread.....

your all going to hell!!!!! :sarcasm:

[Kber]

4. Only if I can do it in a handcart

Welcome to DU

[realFedUp]

5. Ed Bacon will be on Hardball today or tomorrow

if not bumped for another story, but
this editorial should make it timely
for today.

[realFedUp]

6. Ed will be on Hardball today-Wednesday

:-)

[gizmo1979]

7. I say tax them all

unless they can show enough community service to cover the tab.