Monday, July 19, 2010

What Needs to Be Done

All of my information is taken directly from the Internal Revenue Website at http://www.irs.gov/charities/charitable/article/0,,id=96099,00.html and not a misquote or rationalisation. Warning: ALL of the sites that I could find with this information on it reworded it in order to minimalize the illegality of a church trying to be a political action committee, which they are free to do, if they don't mind losing their tax-exempt status. The churches are arguing that they are supporting candidates which are supporting the churches. As in the case of G.W. Bush and the church in Crawford, Texas- he enrolled and donated money as a member of the church, enrolled his whole family as members but never attended. For political
reasons, he supposedly supported small town values until his term was over and then he moved back to Conneticut where he was from. Why is it that churches only listen to politicians who tell them what they want to hear without studying the situation? Because everyone assumes that their religious leader (e.g. pastor, rabbi, deacon, etc.) would NEVER lie to them or give them false information without actually researching it themselves. Guess what?
The question one who follows any religion has to ask themselves is: "Do you want the government involved in your church?" As soon as you are allied with them (government), they will make their own rules for your church as they always do.
Eventually there will be a government controlled, government approved religion that all U.S. Citizens will have to belong to.
The question that the non-religious person has to ask themselves is: "Do you want religion involved in your goverment?" That has never worked out well, dating back to, and before - the crusades. The constant purpose of governments to guard and protect their own people's interests with authority and power, along with the ability to abuse power by using military force to manipulate the will of the people of any country, including one's own, has always led to abuse. It almost immediately leads to government officials thinking that a religious deity is beckoning them to do "...the will of God..." or "Allah" or some other deity or power
and then we have another unwinnable war. I like to think of the United States as being superior to these things but, even though some popular urban myths include that our founding fathers were Christians (they were Deists and anyone who tells you different is a liar.) That in itself should point out to you who the problem is. As long as our churches break the law without any regard for their own tax-exempt status, then, they are setting the worst example possible.

Taken directly from the United States Internal Revenue Service Rules Website at: http://www.irs.gov/charities/charitable/article/0,,id=96099,00.html.

Exemption Requirements - Section 501(c)(3) Organizations

To be tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, an organization must be organized and operated exclusively for exempt purposes set forth in section 501(c)(3), and none of its earnings may inure to any private shareholder or individual. In addition, it may not be an action organization, i.e., it may not attempt to influence legislation as a substantial part of its activities and it may not participate in any campaign activity for or against political candidates.

Organizations described in section 501(c)(3) are commonly referred to as charitable organizations. Organizations described in section 501(c)(3), other than testing for public
safety organizations, are eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions in accordance with Code section 170.
The organization must not be organized or operated for the benefit of private interests, and no part of a section 501(c)(3) organization's net earnings may inure to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual. If the organization engages in an excess benefit transaction with a
person having substantial influence over the organization, an excise tax may be imposed on the person and any organization managers agreeing to the transaction.
Section 501(c)(3) organizations are restricted in how much political and legislative (lobbying) activities they may conduct. For a detailed discussion, see Political and Lobbying Activities. For more information about lobbying activities by charities, see the article Lobbying Issues; for more information about political activities of charities, see the FY-2002 CPE topic Election Year Issues.
Additional Information


Application Process Step by Step: Questions and answers that will help an organization determine if it is eligible to apply for recognition of exemption from federal income taxation under IRC section 501(a) and, if so, how to proceed.

Taken directly from the United States Internal Revenue Service Rules Website at: http://www.irs.gov/charities/charitable/article/0,,id=163395,00.html on the IRS website concerning political actions during an election:

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.

The Internal Revenue Service provides resources to exempt organizations and the public to help them understand the prohibition. As part of its examination program, the IRS also monitors whether organizations are complying with the prohibition.
Page Last Reviewed or Updated: June 16, 2010

This leads us to understand that there are separate meanings being derived from what is actually said in order to mislead the public, John Q. Churchgoer. First, as is usually quoted verbatim on most websites that are trying to mislead you, it is stated that the I.R.S. has said that political activities are "RESTRICTED", but later, and what I wish to point out, is that these aren't somewhat restricted, as is being told to the public, instead the I.R.S. says that the restriction is that it is "...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."
That doesn't include a whole other provision having to do with endorsing ANY LEGISLATION (which would include Roe Vs. Wade which was passed to keep young girls from dying) which I may add is being discussed openly but no one has actually reported "their church" for openly breaking the law. And the part in the I.R.S. Rules that demands that no religious body which is tax exempt under Section 501(c)(3) states that: (directly from the I.R.S. website, not an edited version) URL http://www.irs.gov/charities/article/0,,id=163392,00.html


Lobbying



In general, no organization may qualify for section 501(c)(3) status if a substantial part of its activities is attempting to influence legislation (commonly known as lobbying). A 501(c)(3) organization may engage in some lobbying, but too much lobbying activity risks loss of tax-exempt status.
Legislation includes action by Congress, any state legislature, any local council, or similar governing body, with respect to acts, bills, resolutions, or similar items (such as legislative confirmation of appointive office), or by the public in referendum, ballot initiative, constitutional amendment, or similar procedure. It does not include actions by executive, judicial, or administrative bodies.
An organization will be regarded as attempting to influence legislation if it contacts, or urges the public to contact, members or employees of a legislative body for the purpose of proposing, supporting, or opposing legislation, or if the organization advocates the adoption or rejection of legislation.
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.
Additional information:



Page Last Reviewed or Updated: June 11, 2010

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