Many churches do not qualify to be tax exempt, this is why.

[HUGGY]

Why do you hate the poor?

What poor?

Why does the LDS hate the poor? ..spending a fortune in California to hate gays. Wouldn't THAT money have been more "charitably" spent on the poor?

You stupid Catholics get a pass...you run many charity hospitals...the LDS? Not so much.

 

[NeoTemplar]

No business should be tax exempt.

Religions and charities are big business and should be treated as such.

You must not have a brain in that skull, pilot. Also don't assume that the Vatican speaks for all churches

 

[nitroz]

Why do you hate the poor?

What poor?

Why does the LDS hate the poor? ..spending a fortune in California to hate gays. Wouldn't THAT money have been more "charitably" spent on the poor?

You stupid Catholics get a pass...you run many charity hospitals...the LDS? Not so much.

lds?

 

[Quantum Windbag]

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p1828.pdf

scroll to page 5 and read the 5 qualifications.


Since about half or more get involved in politics, this immediately breaks the requirements to gain tax exemption status and therefore should be taxed immediately.

Can you prove that more than half of the churches devote a substantial part of their time to politics?

Prop 8
Gay Marriage opposition
Contraception debate
calling the plan b pill abortion
republican party/gop
abortion debate
stem cell controversy
cloning
and alot of other issues with politics.

Pastors, Churches and Politics

That means no.

 

[whitehall]

Leties have so much hatred for Christianity that they forget the icons of the Civil Rights movement were Christian ministers who preached a political doctrine. You lefties might be igniting a race war if you start telling Baptist Ministers what they can preach but go ahead if you feel that strongly about it.

 

[buckeye45_73]

I HATE the church tax exemption. it's how the government controls churches and is pretty racist. How is Jeremiah Wright's church for example, tax exempt, yet the christian coalition lost it tax exempt status.

 

[hortysir]

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p1828.pdf

scroll to page 5 and read the 5 qualifications.

Churches and religious organizations, like many other
charitable organizations, qualify for exemption from
federal income tax under IRC section 501(c)(3) and
are generally eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
To qualify for tax-exempt status, such an
organization must meet the following requirements
(covered in greater detail throughout this publication):
■ the organization must be organized and operated
exclusively for religious, educational, scientific, or other
charitable purposes,
■ net earnings may not inure to the benefit of any
private individual or shareholder,
■ no substantial part of its activity may be attempting
to influence legislation,
■ the organization may not intervene in political
campaigns, and
■ the organization’s purposes and activities may not
be illegal or violate fundamental public policy.

Since about half or more get involved in politics, this immediately breaks the requirements to gain tax exemption status and therefore should be taxed immediately.

Where's the link/evidence supporting the bolded claim?

 

[Missourian]

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p1828.pdf

scroll to page 5 and read the 5 qualifications.


Since about half or more get involved in politics, this immediately breaks the requirements to gain tax exemption status and therefore should be taxed immediately.

Can you prove that more than half of the churches devote a substantial part of their time to politics?

Prop 8
Gay Marriage opposition
Contraception debate
calling the plan b pill abortion
republican party/gop
abortion debate
stem cell controversy
cloning
and alot of other issues with politics.

Pastors, Churches and Politics

Seems to me those all relate to church doctrine/teachings.

 

[Missourian]

Organizations may, however, involve themselves in issues of public policy without the activity being considered as lobbying. For example, organizations may conduct educational meetings, prepare and distribute educational materials, or otherwise consider public policy issues in an educational manner without jeopardizing their tax-exempt status.

Lobbying

^^^^Oops.

 

[Skull Pilot]

No business should be tax exempt.

Religions and charities are big business and should be treated as such.

You must not have a brain in that skull, pilot. Also don't assume that the Vatican speaks for all churches

You're the one who assumed I was speaking of the Vatican.

I said all churches and I meant all churches. If you don't think religion is big business then you need to open your eyes.

 

[editec]

If we elect to to tax churches then really there ought to be no tax exempt status for any organization.

The problem is drawing a line in the sand about what constitutes politics. Basically I am asking if it is even possible to fairly decide what is really a political statement and when making such statement consitutes BEING political?


For instance, a NFP promotes the exactly same messages and POVs as a political candidate yet fails to mention that the NFP supports that candidate for office.

Has that NFP entered into the political arena?

I think most of us would say that they have.

But as the laws stand today, they have not.

If Citizens United is the law of the land, then every organization can basically get into politics, and still claim that they deserve tax exept status so long as they donh't overtly support any candidate.

 

[FA_Q2]

No business should be tax exempt.

Religions and charities are big business and should be treated as such.

You must not have a brain in that skull, pilot. Also don't assume that the Vatican speaks for all churches

You're the one who assumed I was speaking of the Vatican.

I said all churches and I meant all churches. If you don't think religion is big business then you need to open your eyes.

Taxes target profits. It is somewhat difficult to tax an organization that has none....


Not saying that no churches have profit but the vast majority would still end up as tax free.

 

[California Girl]

Can you prove that more than half of the churches devote a substantial part of their time to politics?

Prop 8
Gay Marriage opposition
Contraception debate
calling the plan b pill abortion
republican party/gop
abortion debate
stem cell controversy
cloning
and alot of other issues with politics.

Pastors, Churches and Politics

Seems to me those all relate to church doctrine/teachings.

They are doctrinal issues, certainly for the Catholic Church.

 

[Skull Pilot]

You must not have a brain in that skull, pilot. Also don't assume that the Vatican speaks for all churches

You're the one who assumed I was speaking of the Vatican.

I said all churches and I meant all churches. If you don't think religion is big business then you need to open your eyes.

Taxes target profits. It is somewhat difficult to tax an organization that has none....


Not saying that no churches have profit but the vast majority would still end up as tax free.

So called nonprofits also are exempt from sales taxes, property taxes etc.

They should not be.

 

[bodecea]

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p1828.pdf

scroll to page 5 and read the 5 qualifications.

Churches and religious organizations, like many other
charitable organizations, qualify for exemption from
federal income tax under IRC section 501(c)(3) and
are generally eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
To qualify for tax-exempt status, such an
organization must meet the following requirements
(covered in greater detail throughout this publication):
■ the organization must be organized and operated
exclusively for religious, educational, scientific, or other
charitable purposes,
■ net earnings may not inure to the benefit of any
private individual or shareholder,
■ no substantial part of its activity may be attempting
to influence legislation,
■ the organization may not intervene in political
campaigns, and
■ the organization’s purposes and activities may not
be illegal or violate fundamental public policy.

Since about half or more get involved in politics, this immediately breaks the requirements to gain tax exemption status and therefore should be taxed immediately.

Take tax- exempt status from them all...no problem...then they can dabble in politics all they want.

 

[bodecea]

What poor?

Like...Megachurch poor

The Catholic Church runs the second largest social program in this country. Second only to the US government itself. That's our money - Catholics. Why do you want to take that money? Would you prefer the poor lose that support?

Good for them....so what.

 

[Missourian]

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p1828.pdf

scroll to page 5 and read the 5 qualifications.

Churches and religious organizations, like many other
charitable organizations, qualify for exemption from
federal income tax under IRC section 501(c)(3) and
are generally eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
To qualify for tax-exempt status, such an
organization must meet the following requirements
(covered in greater detail throughout this publication):
■ the organization must be organized and operated
exclusively for religious, educational, scientific, or other
charitable purposes,
■ net earnings may not inure to the benefit of any
private individual or shareholder,
■ no substantial part of its activity may be attempting
to influence legislation,
■ the organization may not intervene in political
campaigns, and
■ the organization’s purposes and activities may not
be illegal or violate fundamental public policy.

Since about half or more get involved in politics, this immediately breaks the requirements to gain tax exemption status and therefore should be taxed immediately.

Take tax- exempt status from them all...no problem...then they can dabble in politics all they want.

The law is clear...they can "dabble" in politics now...on ANY issue.

What they cannot do is endorse/campaign for any CANDIDATE.

 

[Warrior102]

Our diocese has more or less declared war on this administration - Religious Liberty | Diocese of Arlington

And it's a wonderful thing.

 

[California Girl]

Like...Megachurch poor

The Catholic Church runs the second largest social program in this country. Second only to the US government itself. That's our money - Catholics. Why do you want to take that money? Would you prefer the poor lose that support?

Good for them....so what.

Not 'good for them', good for those that benefit from those programs... the poorest and most vulnerable of our fellow countrymen. You want to (illegally) take the money that the Church uses for that work for your own greed. Fuck that.

As Missourian pointed out:

Organizations may, however, involve themselves in issues of public policy without the activity being considered as lobbying. For example, organizations may conduct educational meetings, prepare and distribute educational materials, or otherwise consider public policy issues in an educational manner without jeopardizing their tax-exempt status.

 

[California Girl]

Our diocese has more or less declared war on this administration - Religious Liberty | Diocese of Arlington

And it's a wonderful thing.

The whole Catholic Church in the US has... as have many other Churches who are joining with us. The campaign to stop this Administration from usurping our religious liberty continues.