irs not enforcing rules on churches and politics

[Freeper]

xchrom (83,533 posts)

irs not enforcing rules on churches and politics


 
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_IRS_CHURCH_POLITICS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-11-03-12-51-33

NEW YORK (AP) -- For the past three years, the Internal Revenue Service hasn't been investigating complaints of partisan political activity by churches, leaving religious groups who make direct or thinly veiled endorsements of political candidates unchallenged.

The IRS monitors religious and other nonprofits on everything from salaries to spending, and that oversight continues. However, Russell Renwicks, a manager in the IRS Mid-Atlantic region, recently said the agency had suspended audits of churches suspected of breaching federal restrictions on political activity. A 2009 federal court ruling required the IRS to clarify which high-ranking official could authorize audits over the tax code's political rules. The IRS has yet to do so.

Dean Patterson, an IRS spokesman in Washington, said Renwicks, who examines large tax-exempt groups, "misspoke." Patterson would not provide any specifics beyond saying that "the IRS continues to run a balanced program that follows up on potential noncompliance."

However, attorneys who specialize in tax law for religious groups, as well as advocacy groups who monitor the cases, say they know of no IRS inquiries in the past three years into claims of partisanship by houses of worship. IRS church audits are confidential, but usually become public as the targeted religious groups fight to maintain their nonprofit status.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021708098

Hey DUmmies let me give you a warning, maybe I shouldn't since if you continue to beat this drum you will only end up hurting yourselves in the end, but if you push for this and the IRS starts going after churches they will also have to go after the black churches who preach from the pulpit, and who bus their members to the polling places. Do you idiots really want to piss off black churches more than you have already?

Anthony McCarthy (144 posts)
1. If they violate the rules

they should lose their tax exemptions. But we live in a country where "non-profit" groups can rake in millions from billionaires to fill the media with lies. I don't think this is going to get better until the Supreme Court gets some members who have a clue about what self-government by an accurately informed People is, some who have actually run for office, some who aren't full of Olympian BS from Ivy League law schools.

ProgressiveProfessor (18,373 posts)
2. People forget about history here

Historically, black churches have been the soul of the community and the focal point for raising political fervor and funds. It has been that way for generations. If you want to go after the fundies for political activities, you will also be taking on the black churches and community which were politicking well before Billy Graham and some catholic bishops. Think about how President Clinton spoke at black churches...it is not like he was guest preacher giving a sermon.

One DUmmy gets it. 

[DumbAss Tanker]

The IRS isn't dumb enough to pick up that hot potato, if they go after Christian Evangelist churches that support Conservatives, they'll have to go after all the Black churches that actively campaign for Democrats.

[Mr Mannn]

The IRS isn't dumb enough to pick up that hot potato, if they go after Christian Evangelist churches that support Conservatives, they'll have to go after all the Black churches that actively campaign for Democrats.

I'm sure they'll be more "flexible" after Obama is re-elected.