Slog: Comment on Battling Satan Will Repeal Your Tax Exemption
Comments on Battling Satan Will Repeal Your Tax Exemption
ya gotta pay to play...if you want free speech, pay your damn taxes just like the rest of us.
Posted by Andrew | June 24, 2008 2:59 PM
Unanswered question: Why doesn't the Alliance Defense Fund go ahead and file suit now against the IRS investigation of Bill Keller? Why instigate 50 new offenses?
There's no direct explanation, but I think I see the answer in this ominous final sentence from the NYT blog post:
[ADF Senior legal counsel Erik] Stanley said the Alliance Defense Fund had hundreds of pastors who wanted to participate, and would have to narrow it down to those who were prepared to suffer any consequences.
Posted by lostboy | June 24, 2008 3:18 PM
Laughable. However, I could foresee a scenario in which some of the giant megachurches (you know, the ones with private jets and 500-acre campuses) would voluntarily sacrifice their tax exempt status in order to be overtly politically active. I mean, organizations like Focus on the Family and FRC Action are already seriously blurring the line between religious ministry and for-profit political lobbying group.
Posted by Hernandez | June 24, 2008 3:22 PM
Hernandez @3, one nitpick: tax-exempt != not-for-profit
Conversely: taxable != for-profit
Posted by lostboy | June 24, 2008 3:31 PM
Aren't the tapes he plans to send to the IRS categorized as "Weapons of Mass Deception"?
If so, he might end up in GITMO for six years ...
Posted by Will in Seattle | June 24, 2008 4:05 PM
Naw, @5, it'll be perfectly okay. All he has to do is say shrub told him to send in the tapes and Congress will let him off-the-hook.
Posted by COMTE | June 24, 2008 4:11 PM
These people absolutely have the right of free speech. They can support or attack (verbally) any candidate they want. There are, however, specific rules you have to follow to be considered a church and thus not have to pay taxes. If we didn't have these rules anybody could say they're a church and get off the hook. I hope the IRS takes them to court, wins and hits them for back taxes for all the years they've already been walking the line.
Posted by Colin | June 25, 2008 2:22 PM
Slog: Comment on Battling Satan Will Repeal Your Tax Exemption
Comments on Battling Satan Will Repeal Your Tax Exemption
ya gotta pay to play...if you want free speech, pay your damn taxes just like the rest of us.
Posted by Andrew | June 24, 2008 2:59 PM
Unanswered question: Why doesn't the Alliance Defense Fund go ahead and file suit now against the IRS investigation of Bill Keller? Why instigate 50 new offenses?
There's no direct explanation, but I think I see the answer in this ominous final sentence from the NYT blog post:
[ADF Senior legal counsel Erik] Stanley said the Alliance Defense Fund had hundreds of pastors who wanted to participate, and would have to narrow it down to those who were prepared to suffer any consequences.
Posted by lostboy | June 24, 2008 3:18 PM
Laughable. However, I could foresee a scenario in which some of the giant megachurches (you know, the ones with private jets and 500-acre campuses) would voluntarily sacrifice their tax exempt status in order to be overtly politically active. I mean, organizations like Focus on the Family and FRC Action are already serious
ly blurring the line between religious ministry and for-profit political lobbying group.
Posted by Hernandez | June 24, 2008 3:22 PM
Hernandez @3, one nitpick: tax-exempt != not-for-profit
Conversely: taxable != for-profit
Posted by lostboy | June 24, 2008 3:31 PM
Aren't the tapes he plans to send to the IRS categorized as "Weapons of Mass Deception"?
If so, he might end up in GITMO for six years ...
Posted by Will in Seattle | June 24, 2008 4:05 PM
Naw, @5, it'll be perfectly okay. All he has to do is say shrub told him to send in the tapes and Congress will let him off-the-hook.
Posted by COMTE | June 24, 2008 4:11 PM
These people absolutely have the right of free speech. They can support or attack (verbally) any candidate they want. There are, however, specific rules you have to follow to be considered a church and thus not have to pay taxes. If we didn't have these rules anybody could say they're a church and get off the hook. I hope the IRS takes them to court, wins and hits them for back taxes for all the years they've already been walking the line.
Posted by Colin | June 25, 2008 2:22 PM