I agree with Joe Scarborough

[Quantum Windbag]

The thing is, without a special status for religion, the government would have no constraints on making groups of people do things that they personally disagree with. Obama handed the Amish an exception to Obamacare because their religious practices specifically forbid insurance.

As for your question, as I said the laws are a bit tricky. It is legal for the government to fire you if they find out you use peyote even if your religion says it is necessary, It is not, however, legal for them to arrest you for using peyote. One involves your rights as an individual, the other involves your rights as a believer.

Ok, but regarding my new religion, what sort of criteria must we meet for our followers to get special exemptions from laws we don't like?

You don't get blanket exemptions, you have to prove that what you are doing is an integral part of your beliefs, hence the exemption from drug laws if you are a Native American, but not employment laws.

 

[Intense]

501c3: Facts about 501c3 tax-exempt status for the church


501c3 Church Facts



Lyndon B. Johnson, LBJMost churches in America have organized as "501c3 tax-exempt religious organizations." This is a fairly recent trend that has only been going on for about fifty years. Churches were only added to section 501c3 of the tax code in 1954. We can thank Sen. Lyndon B. Johnson for that. Johnson was no ally of the church. As part of his political agenda, Johnson had it in mind to silence the church and eliminate the significant influence the church had always had on shaping "public policy."

Although Johnson proffered this as a "favor" to churches, the favor also came with strings attached (more like shackles). One need not look far to see the devastating effects 501c3 acceptance has had to the church, and the consequent restrictions placed upon any 501c3 church. 501c3 churches are prohibited from addressing, in any tangible way, the vital issues of the day.

For a 501c3 church to openly speak out, or organize in opposition to, anything that the government declares "legal," even if it is immoral (e.g. abortion, homosexuality, etc.), that church will jeopardize its tax exempt status. The 501c3 has had a "chilling effect" upon the free speech rights of the church. LBJ was a shrewd and cunning politician who seemed to well-appreciate how easily many of the clergy would sell out.

Did the church ever need to seek permission from the government to be exempt from taxes? Were churches prior to 1954 taxable? No, churches have never been taxable. To be taxable a church would first need to be under the jurisdiction, and therefore under the taxing authority, of the government. The First Amendment clearly places the church outside the jurisdiction of the civil government: "Congress shall make NO LAW respecting an establishment of religion, nor prohibiting the free exercise thereof."

Religion cannot be free if you have to pay the government, through taxation, to exercise it. Since churches aren't taxable in the first place, why do so many of them go to the IRS and seek permission to be tax-exempt? It occurs out of:

Ignorance ("We didn't know any better")
Bandwagon logic ("Everyone else is doing it")
Professional advice (many attorneys and CPAs recommend it)

Does the law require, or even encourage, a church to organize as a 501c3? To answer that question let's turn to what the IRS itself has to say.
Churches Need Not Apply

In order to be considered for tax-exempt status by the IRS an organization must fill out and submit IRS Form 1023 and 1024. However, note what the IRS says regarding churches and church ministries, in Publication 557:

Some organizations are not required to file Form 1023. These include:

Churches, interchurch organizations of local units of a church, conventions or associations of churches, or integrated auxiliaries of a church, such as a men’s or women’s organization, religious school, mission society, or youth group. These organizations are exempt automatically if they meet the requirements of section 501(c)(3).

Churches Are “Automatically Tax-Exempt”

According to IRS Code § 508(c)(1)(A):

Special rules with respect to section 501(c)(3) organizations.

(a) New organizations must notify secretary that they are applying for recognition of section 501(c)(3) status.
(c) Exceptions.

(1) Mandatory exceptions. Subsections (a) and (b) shall not apply to—

(A) churches, their integrated auxiliaries, and conventions or associations of churches.

This is referred to as the "mandatory exception" rule. Thus, we see from the IRS’ own publications, and the tax code, that it is completely unnecessary for any church to apply for tax-exempt status. In the IRS’ own words a church “is automatically tax-exempt.”


501c3: Facts about 501c3 tax-exempt status for the church

 

[Conservative]

I don't. If churches are upset about this, they should stand with the rest of us in resisting these kinds of requirements in general. The state has no business telling us why kind of insurance to have.

You are right and if you hit my car and I find out you are uninsured I should be within my rights to take repayment out of your hide.

That's not in the Constitution... nor is it relevant to the topic. But thanks for proving what a real hard ass you are. We are all most impressed.

No really. We are.

We are not laughing at you.

I am.

 

[Claudette]

Barry opened up a real can of worms with this one.

What a genious.

 

[California Girl]

Barry opened up a real can of worms with this one.

What a genious.

He really has. Piss off one faith, you piss us all off. We have the support of every major religion in the US. They understand the issue, even if the drooling borg don't.

 

[Conservative]

All Obama has to to do get out of this is exactly what he has been doing since the new healthcare law was enacted...

 

[Mr. Shaman]

It looks to me like the Obama decision to force the Catholic Church to provide things against its religion is so bad only hacks can agree with it.



Morning Joe blog - Scarborough, Brzezinski, Sharpton discuss Obama Catholic ruling

If churches can't conduct businesses according to US law, then they should stick to the non-business realm of organized religion.

You gonna pick up the tab that we'll leave if we pulled out of the massive social programs that we fund?

You mean.....with all o' that tax-free INCOME they generate??

​

 

[Mr. Shaman]

I agree with Joe Scarborough

Joe Scarborough is a loud-mouthed, hypocritical, opportunistic ASSHOLE!!!

What's most-amusing, about him, though....is how his Karma KILLED any political-ambitions, he might have, in the future!!!!

He knows, damned WELL, that.....because of HIM, and people LIKE him....if he should EVER consider running-for-office, again, he'll be subjected to ENDLESSLY tap-dancing around that dead-secretary that was found in his Florida office!!