There's a simple way to raise $71 billion in revenue every year.
We're subsidizing the churches, just like Walmart. IRS regulations clearly state that tax-exempt organizations may not engage in politics:
The Restriction of Political Campaign Intervention by Section 501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt Organizations
Under the Internal Revenue Code, all section 501(c)(3) organizations are absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office. Contributions to political campaign funds or public statements of position (verbal or written) made on behalf of the organization in favor of or in opposition to any candidate for public office clearly violate the prohibition against political campaign activity. Violating this prohibition may result in denial or revocation of tax-exempt status and the imposition of certain excise taxes.
Certain activities or expenditures may not be prohibited depending on the facts and circumstances. For example, certain voter education activities (including presenting public forums and publishing voter education guides) conducted in a non-partisan manner do not constitute prohibited political campaign activity. In addition, other activities intended to encourage people to participate in the electoral process, such as voter registration and get-out-the-vote drives, would not be prohibited political campaign activity if conducted in a non-partisan manner.
On the other hand, voter education or registration activities with evidence of bias that (a) would favor one candidate over another; (b) oppose a candidate in some manner; or (c) have the effect of favoring a candidate or group of candidates, will constitute prohibited participation or intervention.
Below the fold, various turbulent priests obnoxiously flout the law.
Pastor openly challenges IRS, flaunts regulations
“The IRS is not going to be the sermon content manager for this pulpit,” the Rev. Dr. Kevin Baird, pastor of Legacy Church in West Ashley, told about 150 members, who responded with a round of applause.
In fact, Baird plans to mail the IRS a copy of his sermon. He hopes the tax agency will threaten to remove his tax-exempt status, so he can take the agency to court. He said the 1954 amendment to the tax code that’s used to regulate religious speech is unconstitutional and hinders pastors from their mission of telling the truth as they see it.
“Religion and politics are inexorably intertwined in our nation’s history,” he said during his sermon. “Whatever the Bible touches — and it touches every aspect of life — I have an obligation to teach i
Pastors urged to bring politics to pulpit
Jeffress urged the capacity crowd at the A La Carte Event Pavilion in Tampa to use their pulpit time this Sunday to stress the importance of voting for the candidate who supports the "biblical values" of the sanctity of marriage, sanctity of life and religious freedom.
Pastor defiantly flouts IRS
Pastor Ronnie Spriggs of Hager Hill Freewill Baptist Church said during a May 13 sermon that he wants Obama voted out of office because of the president's support of gay marriage.
Obama "said that he believes that gays ought to have the right to marry in the United States. That's the president of the United States who said that," Spriggs told his flock during the sermon. "I don't know about you folks, but I'm going on record and I don't care who knows it. I want the guy out."
Catholic Church tells parishioners to vote against Obama
"I am asking all of you to go to the polls and be united in replacing our present president with a president that will respect the Catholic Church in this country," the notice said, according to Americans United. "Please pass this on to all of your Catholic friends."
The El Paso diocese later issued a retraction. Meh.
Catholic priest calls vote for Obama a "mortal sin."
I could go on, and on, and on, but Project Fairplay collected a bunch. You get the picture. The funny thing is that when I googled "Priest tells people to vote for Obama," NOTHING came up except articles about voting AGAINST Obama. So, yes, this diary, of necessity, has no counterpoint.
Fed up? Here's a petition that hasn't gotten a lot of attention