Monday, September 21, 2015
Would The IRS Revoke The Catholic Church's Tax Exempt Status If Pope Francis Endorses Bernie Sanders?
Forbes: Presidential Race — Let's Talk Religion, Politics And The IRS, by Peter J. Reilly:
The IRS continues to make it clear that political campaign intervention by 501(c)(3) organizations including churches is absolutely prohibited. ... Of course when it comes to such a prohibition, the devil is in the details. ”Certain activities may not be prohibited depending on the facts and circumstances”. As we head into a new election season, it is worth looking at some of those devilish details.
Mike Figueredo of The Humanist Report has suggested that given how enthusiastic Bernie Sanders is about Pope Francis, maybe Pope Francis should return the favor with an endorsement. Based on Revenue Ruling 2007-41], Pope Francis actually could give a clear indication that he is “feeling the Bern” without jeopardizing the tax-exempt status of Catholic institutions in the United States . He just has to make it clear that he is not speaking ex cathedra, and not do it in an encyclical or a bull, offer indulgences for Sanders voters or do it in a church setting.
https://taxprof.typepad.com/taxprof_blog/2015/09/would-the-irs-revoke-the-catholic-churchs-tax-exempt-status-if-pope-francis-endorses-bernie-sanders.html
Comments
Isn't it odd that so many religious leaders can't grasp the moral chasm between taking money out of your own pocket to do good and taking money out of someone else's pocket to do good? The latter is closer to pure theft than pure charity.
Posted by: AMT buff | Sep 21, 2015 12:50:38 PM
Most churches in this country operate without benefit of a IRS determination letter. Therefore, for them, technically there's nothing to "revoke."
Posted by: Tu Phat | Sep 21, 2015 2:11:47 PM
They should. If The Church engages in partisan politics, then they must lose their tax exempt status. But the Pope isn't dumb enough to get into partisan politics.
Posted by: Mannie | Sep 22, 2015 4:53:23 AM
Would taxing the Church qua Church (not as an employer) present a 1st Amendment problem?
Posted by: Jack | Sep 22, 2015 7:42:14 AM
They should. If The Church engages in partisan politics, then they must lose their tax exempt status. But the Pope isn't dumb enough to get into partisan politics.
Posted by: Mannie | Sep 22, 2015 4:53:23 AM
No that's if they don't support the DNC
Posted by: bandit | Sep 22, 2015 7:43:12 AM
"Of course when it comes to such a prohibition, the devil is in the details. ”Certain activities may not be prohibited depending on the facts and circumstances”."
Yup and all the people saying the IRS was just doing their job attacking enemies of the Democrat party should realize that. Afterall, Democrats have created a nationwide network of nonprofit activist groups that engage in politics. Under Obama, these groups get a lot of federal money and help from government organizations in organizing their protests and implement the goals of party activists through regulation even if it means breaking laws or ignoring congressional votes.
Would the Catholic church lose it tax exempt status if the Pope recommended a candidate? It depends entirely on the Pope's support of the Democrat party. Democrat churches regularly engage in politics just like their activist groups do. The only time the have a problem with it is when non-Democrats organize like Democrats do.
Posted by: wodun | Sep 22, 2015 10:26:22 AM
I think Mike is right.
Posted by: HTA | Sep 21, 2015 11:27:25 AM