Why is "Tax Exempt Status" being used to shut up clergy?

Why not form a PAC, do a few church-like activities, and make a political organization that's tax exempt? You can't have your cake and eat it, too.

This law is completely valid. The numerous fiscal abuses done by churches well justify such laws.

I don't think you want an answer, you just wanted to post a rant. I know, I know, I shouldn't feed the trolls, but I'll take a stab at it anyway.

Churches are granted tax-exempt status because the government feels that they provide a free service to the community. Since they are neither commercial nor residential properties, it is presumed to be unfair to tax them. Some churches abuse this with money-earning investments and whatnot. The principal, though, is that churches exist on a higher plain, exempt from the dirty realities of day-to-day life. By engaging in political activism, churches exceed the boundaries set by the tax-exempt status. Therefore, a church theoretically must be politically neutral.

Tax exempt status is a privilege, not a right. It is basically an agreement where the government stays out of religion and the religion agrees to stay out of the government. (At least on a certain scale.)

That said, clergy are fully allowed to speak their mind, unofficially. However, when acting as a member of the Church, doing so breaks the agreement between the Church and the State.

When our nation was formed, our fore fathers had no intentions of funding churches in ANY way; Including tax exemption status. That came much later.

Jefferson, Adams and Franklin would be clamoring for an overthrow of our current government if they were alive today. *sigh*

I think they bigger question is, why are the clergy so concerned with whether or not the church has to pay taxes?

I found out about the guidelines for church tax exempt status about 3 years ago. I was galled. I wasn't bothered that government had placed these guidelines, I was more galled by the fact that our churches agreed to go along with this in exchange for the almighty dollar. I had learned at an early age that our government wasn't this wonderful system that existed to protect the people, yet I still held on to the delusion that the church was all-benevolent. People are going to think you are being paranoid or extremist when you state "are we in Nazi Germany or Soviet Russia." I don't think you are to far off. I started noticing about 3 years ago the devastating effects of pharmaceuticals in my family and friends. I saw that Big Pharma held the most power in government. I went to my church to speak to the pastor about my concerns for my family, friends, and America in general and I was thoroughly disgusted by the pastors blind endorsement of any government dealings. I expected him to break out in a rendition of "It's a Grand Old Flag" right before my eyes. I spoke to several other pastors and it was the same routine. That was when I found out about 501c tax exempt code for churches. It all made sense then. American churches are bought and paid for and they are no longer "Houses of God". All you R&S readers who think that your church is different, for your sake I hope so! I challenge you though to start asking serious questions of your church elders about government issues that effect Americans negatively and see if their views line up with God or the government. You most likely will be unpleasantly surprised. I don't believe Obama is going to be a dictator, the only thing dictating our government is money and who has the most.

Perhaps the answer is not in fretting about whether a church may lose its 501 (c)3 status, but ask whether churches (and universities for that matter) should be utilizing that status to begin with.

If a church is politically active, then it should weight the cost, and waive it's tax exempt status. Most churches are disbursing funds as fast as they take them in anyways. It would really just be a matter of property tax. Then the church can be as vocal as it wants to be.

Religion is not allowed to mingle in Gov't issues. The Pulpit is used for religious purposes NOT political ones.

The Founding Fathers were against having religion mixed in politics. And Tax Exemption wasn't around then. They didn't have an IRS back then... that's why the ruling stands.

If you want to talk politics, then talk politics... but your church is for religion only. If your pastor/preacher/minister/priest wishes to discuss politics, then he should invite you all to his house to do it.

No it's not a violation of Freedom of Speech. No one said you can't talk about politics... you just can't use your religion to back up your politics.

Maybe you should read the Constitution

Until Lyndon B. Johnson added that into the Tax Code back in 1954, churches were able to speak about the issues and candidates without fear of losing their tax exempt status.

It is anathema to the 1st Amendment, but why let that stop anyone?

EDIT: Just so everyone knows, individual pastors do pay taxes on their incomes. It is the churches' offerings that are not taxed. Churches also pay property taxes.

What keeps a church tax exempt is that they are religious in nature, and are keeping themselves out of the government processes. An election is a government process. They are free to express their freedom of speech, and free to practice their religion at the same time, they just have to pay taxes. There is no lack of freedom in this situation.

No, this is definitely not the case. Churches can choose whether or not they wish to get the tax exempt status. It is not forced on them. If they want to be politically active, they are welcome to renounce their status and pay their taxes. Otherwise, they cannot endorse candidates. They can still come down on moral issues - they just can't oppose or endorse.

The Church of Satan is one church that forgoes its tax exempt status. If your church wants to be more politically active, it's certainly free to do the same.