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Pastors Will Unite Against IRS to Deliver ‘Pulpit Freedom Sunday’ Political Sermons (Poll)

Sep. 20, 2012 9:49am Billy Hallowell

It’s that time of year, again. On October 7, 2012, hundreds of Christian pastors are going to be taking to their pulpits with overtly political messages in an effort to challenge a restrictive Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) tax code. The calculated event, “Pulpit Freedom Sunday,” is an annual initiative that seeks to rally believers against the government’s regulations on pastoral political endorsements.

The situation, as TheBlaze has noted in the past, is a complicated one. While there are certainly political issues that preachers can discuss from the pulpit, churches’ tax-exempt status prevents faith leaders, at least in part, from partisan preaching. Thus, if a church wants to enjoy tax benefits, it must comply.

THE HISTORY OF THE CONTROVERSIAL IRS CODE

Many pastors claim that the co-called “Johnson Amendment,” an IRS code that was added in 1954, causes such fear among some clergy that they end up erring on the side of not addressing controversial social and political issues (read a complete history of the controversial amendment here).

The notion is that this angst about violating the law has led to a decline in church members’ education on important issues of the day. For the past 60 years, the Johnson Amendment has governed how charities and churches — 501(c)(3) organizations — can handle political partisanship.

The code explicitly prohibits non-profit organizations from engaging in campaign activity. Rather than declining in prevalence over time, this regulation has actually been strengthened. The last change was made to it back in 1987, when the amendment’s language was tightened to clarify that the restrictions should also cover statements and stances that rail against candidates (previously it was interpreted to only stand for statements that supported specific candidates).

The IRS describes a 501(c)(3) group as one, “which does not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distributing of statements), any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office.” The IRS web site goes on to designate which sorts of activities are permitted and which are banned under current regulations:

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.

Any violation of the aforementioned tenets could lead a church or non-profit to lose its tax-exempt status.

THE PULPIT FREEDOM SUNDAY INITIATIVE

In an effort to combat what many preachers believe to be a free-speech violation, they will engage in The Alliance Defending Freedom’s (ADF) Pulpit Freedom Sunday initiative. A description of the event explains, in detail, why the event was launched and what it intends to accomplish:

Alliance Defending Freedom began Pulpit Freedom Sunday in 2008. The goal of Pulpit Freedom Sunday is simple: have the Johnson Amendment declared unconstitutional – and once and for all remove the ability of the IRS to censor what a pastor says from the pulpit.

Alliance Defending Freedom is actively seeking to represent churches or pastors who are under investigation by the IRS for violating the Johnson Amendment by preaching biblical Truth in a way that expresses support for – or opposition to – political candidates. Alliance Defending Freedom represents all of its clients free of charge.

Pulpit Freedom Sunday is not about turning churches into political machines; it is about restoring the right of pastors to speak freely from their pulpits about all matters included in Scripture – even when Scripture is deeply relevant to a pending election or the quality of a candidate for office.

“The purpose is to make sure that the pastor — and not the IRS — decides what is said from the pulpit,” Erik Stanley, senior legal counsel for ADF, said in an interview with Fox News. “It is a head-on constitutional challenge.”

The event essentially encourages hundreds of pastors to take to their pulpits on October 7, 2012 to preach sermons that compare the positions held by presidential candidates (and local and state contenders) to what Biblical scriptures say about issues. While the overall theme is the same, those leaders participating control their own messaging, as sermons are not mandated by the ADF.

Pastors Prepare to Fight IRS Through Pulpit Freedom Sunday

A screen shot from the Pulpit Freedom Sunday web site

“A Pulpit Freedom Sunday sermon explores what Scripture says about the selection of our national, state, or local leaders and applies Scripture and/or church doctrine to candidates and the issues held by the candidates such as life, marriage, and family,” explains a tip sheet that is published on the initiative’s web site.

COMPLAINTS AGAINST CHURCHES

In the past, following sermons, participating pastors have sent audio and video versions of their politically-driven messages to the IRS. While this may seem counterproductive and inciting, one of the central goals of the Pulpit Freedom Sunday is to see the Johnson Amendment ruled unconstitutional.

So far, the IRS has yet to go after any of the churches who have submitted political sermons. That being said, the hope is that making the government aware of church code violations will spark an audit. Then, the constitutionality of the Johnson Amendment can be hashed out once and for all, with the ADF actively seeking churches that it can represent in this potential court battle.

While those groups participating in the Pulpit Freedom Sunday have not been cited by the IRS, the government has, indeed, investigated charities, including churches, for election year activity in the past. While investigations do unfold, the IRS very rarely revokes 501(c)(3) statuses. Here’s some information from the tax authority’s 2006 election report, which provides a lens into the complaint process:

In 2006, the IRS received 237 referrals alleging prohibited political campaign intervention by section 501(c)(3) organizations, as compared to 166 in 2004. Although the number of referrals received in 2006 exceeded those filed in 2004 by 81, the number of referrals actually selected for examination in 2006 was less than the number selected in 2004.

In our view, the IRS public awareness program contributed to the rise in the number of referrals we received; whereas, the experience we gained through the 2004 PACI resulted in fewer 2006 referrals selected for examination.
In both 2004 and 2006, referrals alleging violations by churches and nonchurches were almost evenly split, as were the referrals ultimately selected for examination.

When it comes to complaints about violations, groups like the Americans United for Separation of Church and State (AUSCS) are active in waging them. In fact, in a press release put out in late August, the organization called for an official IRS investigation of the Missouri Baptist Convention over the alleged endorsement of two political candidates.

“Americans United for Separation of Church and State today filed a complaint with the IRS about the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) for intervening in the Missouri Republican primary on behalf of candidates for state and federal offices,” the release read.

However, these complaints never solidify into anything major, thus leaving the Johnson Amendment in place and continuing what some pastors, like Jim Garlow, who is active in Pulpit Freedom Sunday, call an unfair situation for houses of worship.

“The IRS will send out notices from time to time and say you crossed the line,” explained Garlow, a pastor at San Diego’s Skyline Wesleyan Church. “But when it’s time to go to court, they close the case.”

The Pulpit Freedom Sunday initiative is hoping to change this dynamic. This is the fifth year that the effort has unfolded. During its inception in 2008, 33 pastors from 22 states took part. This number jumped to 80 in 2009 and to 100 in 2010. Last year, after a monumental surge in participation, 539 pastors took part in the initiative.

While pastors contend that the IRS’s regulations constrain free speech, groups like AUSCS claim that this is a move to turn churches into right-wing voting machines. Last year, the group’s communications director, Joseph Conn, said that the effort is merely being undertaken “to forge fundamentalist churches into a disciplined voting bloc.”

What do you think? Should churches have the right to unfettered speech, even partisan discussion, from the pulpit? And should they be able to endorse candidates? Take our poll, below:

Related:

In CONTROL, Glenn Beck presents a passionate, fact-based case for guns that reveals why gun control isn’t really about controlling guns at all; it’s about controlling us. Find out more HERE.

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Comments (93)

tradcatholicgirl
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 11:30am
If the pastor is doing his/her job by preaching about what is absolute evil and preaching about the Gospel and its relevance to our modern life, and if the congregation is getting the message, they should know who to vote for as Christians.

Endorsing a candidate should not be necessary. As a devout Christian, I vote pro-life. It makes a lot of local and state election choices pretty simple.

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- DRsnapper
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 1:51pm
  the reason for this rule is to stop abuse by non religious men avoiding taxes
  
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- RANGER1965
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 2:24pm
  @Dr. Snapper
  
  Pfttt!!!
  
  The reason for this rule is that pastor’s of churches talk to millions of Americans all over the country every Sunday. If they really got together and organized it would become the most powerful political bloc in America overnight.
  
  Their influence could elect cantidates, and get rid of them. They could influence law makers to include abolishing the IRS. Such power is fearful, and the blunt instrument of our Federal goverment is the IRS.
  
  Report this comment
- pdw
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 2:36pm
  I agree, the message from the pulpit should be about building the Kingdom of God not man but at the same time when the government attacks the Church they should have the same right to speak out about the evils of our government. This government we have right now believe they can slander anyone without retaliations. I have heard more about this election in Church than ever in my life. It has gotten so bad that some black pastors are telling their people not to vote. So in my assumption they are telling them if they cannot bring themselves to vote against Obama not to vote at all.
  
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- Anadara
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 3:14pm
  Christian groups should be afforded the same and equal rights as the Unions enjoy. Unions leaders spew their politics and divert funds from their members to political causes everyday. …I say equal rights!
  
  Report this comment
- turkey13
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 3:16pm
  These preachers can’t do this. Holder will fill up the jails. This is only allowed in African American churches and Muslim churches.
  
  Report this comment
- buttpatriot
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 5:47pm
  Churches are part of the 47% slurping from the government teet. How about this: pay taxes, say what you want.
  
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- SonOfaCommunist
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 5:58pm
  HELLO! If you are a creation of the Gov’t you have to do what the Gov’t tells you to do. Follow the logic people. If your church is 501c3 Non-Profit Corporation, guess what, you’re not a church, you’re a corporation that must abide by the corporate bylaws. And the corporate bylaws of a 501c3 tell you, as a Pastor, that you are not allowed to speak in favor of or against any political candidate or party.
  
  SOLUTION – UNINCORPORATE and you can say whatever the HELL you want to, as a Church.
  
  Report this comment
- SonOfaCommunist
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 6:22pm
  Just wanted to ADD THIS SPECIAL INFO from the “Speak Up Movement” which is part of Alliance Defending Freedom.
  
  “Alliance Defending Freedom is recognized by the IRS as a ministry exempt from taxation under Section501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service Code, and gifts are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.”
  
  Read it here for yourselves http://www.alliancedefendingfreedom.org/site/terms-and-conditions
  
  HELLOOOOOOOOOOO Anybody home????? These Pastors work for the government and are now under another government entity attempting to fight for their so called First Amendment Right.
  
  WAKE UP FOOLS – you’ve been had again.
  
  Fool me once…fool me twice as it appears to be!
  
  Report this comment
- Hanner
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 7:58pm
  IRS Code 501(c)(1)(A) states that the new organizations must apply for recognition of tax exempt status with the mandatory exception of “churches, their integrated auxiliaries, and conventions or associations of churches.” However, many church organizations do file and obtain tax-exempt status even though not required by law.
  
  Wake up sheep! Churches are automatically exempt from taxes by the IRS’s own code!!! These blind sheep that run for tax exempt status are just the blind following the blind. Churches are not even required to incorporate. A little internet searching goes a long way people. These things are all lies and deception. A politicians greatest fear is to be MEASURED by God’s word. Preachers have the right, and absolute responsibility to warn their congregations about who they go vote for. A child of God cannot cast a vote for a gay rights supporter, baby killer, liar, or thief. You have denied your God and your faith if you vote for someone like this. A child of God cannot support anyone that walks in rejection of God’s word. Your vote makes you accountable to the Lord. Your vote says, “This is who I choose to rule over me”. God’s people are NOT to be electing a devil to rule over them.
  
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- SonOfaCommunist
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 11:48pm
  @Hanner
  
  Awesome addition to what I left out. Churches are NOT REQUIRED to file for tax exempt status, as they already have that status Constitutionally and without the IRS code.
  
  PASTORS FREE YOUR CHURCHES TO SPEAK THE TRUTH!
  
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- bwspeer
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 11:53pm
  How is this law affecting other 501 3 (c) groups? Many volunteer fire departments use this same IRS designation.
  
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pressthepress
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 11:17am
An earlier post said something about getting ready for civil war…
I do not believe that should be a goal of us, the rightful owners and citizens of the only republic that has known any amount of freedom for its’ citizenry in the history of mankind. However, we MUST do more than rail back and forth on these sites. These sites are great for keeping us informed. We should let our opinions be known.
But we must be careful that we do not become filled with “revenge minded” tactics like the left. We are better, and we are stronger. We are Americans.

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Jezreel
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 11:05am
Churches are businesses and they adhere to government rules in order to be able to function. They deserve what they get. I think that churches should be taxed 10%, the same amount that pastors who twist the scriptures to get people to pay “tithes”. Pastors have to be ordained of man to be able to run a church. That means that they teach and preach things that their senimary (cemetary) has brainwashed them to feed the masses. False doctrines like the Trinity, the rapture, the tithe and other things.

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- Briggston
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 4:46pm
  Then I want every Civil liberties union, non profit and secular welfare or agenda driven organization contained under a 501C status to be taxed as well. Not to mention your rails against religious dogma show only a secular Dogma Bias. If the religions have to be taxed. Then tax the ACLU, Acorn, ELF, PETA, FREEDOM FROM RELIGION and every other secular and political based agenda driven non profit. Just because your organization is non religious in its affiliation doesn’t mean you should get a pass either.
  
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- StarkeRaving
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 7:37pm
  A church is not a business. It is a group of like mined people who join together to worship their God. In order to have a place to meet tithes are necessary. As many of us believe in Christ’s teachings tithes are necessary.
  What our pastors elects to speak about is none of the governments business. As members of the church we both hire and fire pastors. If members do not believe he/she is speaking from our bible we can elect to either replace them or leave that group.If a pastor speaks about a candidate it’s usually because the views expressed are not within our beliefs IE abortion – yes he should be free to inform us when someone running for office is in opposition to our beliefs.
  Atheist’s want freedom FROM religion Christians want freedom from government interference in religion.
  
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Rickfromillinois
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 11:02am
Why does there have to be one day a year for these Churches? Black Churches routinely preach political views, endorse candidates from one party, and often has political candidates speak to their congregations. If anyone complains the standard answer seems to be that it is “traditional” as part of the civil rights movement and strongly implicate that those who are complaining are racists. If it is alright for Churches with predominately black congregations to do this then it should be alright for ALL Churches to do so. Either let everyone do it or don’t let anyone do it.

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- usedCZARsalesman
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 11:35am
  The very fIrst word of your second sentence answers your question for you
  
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- Marine25
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 7:40pm
  Name one black church that has endorsed a candidate for public office.
  
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- usedCZARsalesman
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 10:07pm
  Ummm, Wrights church and virtually EVERY black liberation church or southern baptist black church
  
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nickc66
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 10:54am
How can media matters and unions be 501 c 3s and be so openly political, but churches are threatened to be silent or else.

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- GhostOfJefferson
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 10:56am
  Indeed, the question the Left deftly avoids at all costs.
  
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- Cavallo
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 11:08am
  This is why I laugh at people who think this is a free country. When the central authority assesses fees, penalties, and taxes based on what you say, or what opinion you express you do not have free speech. The government decides when, where, and how much you are allowed to speak about politics, or express opinions about the bureaucratic masters who themselves bow at the alter of State. All other Gods must bend knee to the God that has the title of “The State”.
  
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- encinom
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 2:14pm
  Cause they are not, unions are 501(c)(5) organizations (they may have affiliated charities that are 501(c)(3) scholarship funds, etc.). While Media Matters is a 501(c)(3), they do not endorse candidates as the Churches seek to do, debunking and exposing the lies of the right wing is not political speech, is preaching the truth.
  
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- Anadara
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 3:18pm
  @ Encinom… You are still a Marxist troll. Just remember the fredom that you seek to destroy is yours too.
  
  Report this comment
- Marine25
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 7:38pm
  Encinom–do not sully this discussion with your ‘facts’ and “actual laws”. Don’t you know when someone here asks a question they want affirmation, not information.
  
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nickc66
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 10:53am
How can media matters, unions, etc. be 501 c 3s and be as openly political as they want and a church be threatened to lose it for just mentioning politics?

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ladyofthelakenc
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 10:44am
I would never want any church pastor to ENDORSE A SPECIFIC CANDIDATE….
BUT
I expect my pastor to preach from the teachings of the Bible and promote voting the Bible.
Simple way to accomplish both objectives….
free from political endorsement….but strong on preaching the Bible.

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- bgotts27
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 11:03am
  Whether or not you would want your pastor to endorse a specific candidate, or whether or not your pastor would is not the issue here.
  
  The issue is whether or not he has the freedom to.
  
  Just like I have the freedom to get drunk in my home, or to drink alcoholic beverages at a bar or restaurant, but I never have.
  
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michael from Ga.
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 10:35am
One simple way around this is – drop the 5013-c, and get progressive/communisim out of the church. The other way around this is Not picking, just teaching the Word; teach the Truth. Preachers are leading the line into the “Wide Gate”.

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- dennisS
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 3:33pm
  Agree. Churches should not have a tax exemption, having one makes them an appendage of the government. When you make a deal with the devil you will only have hell to pay! Drop the exemption so that you can get a pair and speak the TRUTH!
  
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Hannum22
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 10:35am
When we got our letter in the mail from the “Rev” Berry Lynn I called the Americans United for Separation of Church and State and told them that I would be speaking about politics and the politicians who push anti biblical policies and I would be doing it this Sunday. Told them to send the IRS and gave the address and times of services. To loose tax status means nothing compared to be unwilling to preach and teach Biblical Morals and our responsibility as Christian citizens.

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DesertPaine
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 10:31am
No Constitutional rights are at stake. Churches are completely free to say what they wish. However, it is they who apply for privileges under 503(c). If one wants to be free and live their Constitutional rights, govt cannot and will not stop that. If one wants to enslave themselves to the king’s favors, then they’ve gotta play by the king’s rules. It isn’t much more complicated than that.

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Small World
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 10:31am
We need to get the goverment out of our churches. First they came for the Pastors and then they came for…………..

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Dismayed Veteran
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 10:29am
“While pastors contend that the IRS’s regulations constrain free speech, groups like AUSCS claim that this is a move to turn churches into right-wing voting machines.”

Don’t the free thinkers in the Episcopalian, Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, United Church of Christ get the benefit when this law is found unconstitutional? Seems to me that right wing and left wing churches would both become “voting machines.”

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- sWampy
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 10:46am
  Yeah, seem most of the churches ignore the teachings of Christ, in favor of the teaching of Mao/Stalin these days.
  
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Rational Man
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 10:26am
It’s about free speech, and if the IRS is giving tax exemption to outfits like Media Matters then they should leave chruches alone. They want churches to pick up the slack in helping people that the government forces to fall between the cracks of society and tax the same churces to help fund putting those people there in the first place. If they started taxing churches, you can bet that it would be selective and there would be waivers for those that preach what the government likes. Churches are supposed to influence government, not the other way around. Whether it’s Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Atheisim or whatever, the dominant religion is the dominant influence to government in every country in the world. Christianity in America has been the most successfull influence in government in history. Obama and his kind want government to be your religion with Obama being your “messiah”.

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PIGSWILLNEVERFLY
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 10:19am
Maybe they should talk about Obamacare since here comes eugenics…ripe for the next dictator to use. Here are the facts of 1920′s eugenics http://www.laiglesforum.com/i-can-see-the-next-holocaust-from-my-house/3057.htm This is Bidens big fn deal. The horrors of this nasty law are innumerable.

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starman70
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 10:18am
Comments in sermons about morality issues expoused by politicians, and the way the politicians try to divest themselves of morality should be allowed. Pastors should be allowed to speak out against any practice prohibited by the Bible. They should also be allowed to point out to their congregations those politicians who are violating Biblical principles.

This rule was passed only to shut up any pastor who doesn’t agree with Washington. It is government meddling in religion and has no place in America. Remember how the British tried to shut up American preachers prior to the American revolution? Remember how the British jailed, tortured and even hung pastors, charging them with treason for speaking out against the crown? Well, it’s the same thing here! Our government thwartling free speech.

I say” GO FOR IT PASTORS! Show Washington that: WE SURROUND THEM!!!!

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- encinom
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 10:35am
  Tax the Churches, like any other business, they they can preach politics all day.
  
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- The_Cabrito_Goat
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 9:20pm
  Have you ever heard the phrase “poorer than a church”? Most churches barely scrape by on donations alone. Even the catholic church of Vatican city is only barely in the black when it comes to finances.
  
  If you applied the corporate tax rate of America (the highest in the world) of 40%, churches would be decimated.
  
  Unless that’s the point of the tax code?
  
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breakobamanow
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 10:15am
I do not believe pastors should speak for or against a candidate by name. I do agree that they should teach and discuss with their church members the things that God approves and disapproves of using scripture concerning social issues, such as marriage, birth, money, and worldly things. I believe the word of God concerning the governments of man and that is why I do not vote. He sets them up or brings them down as He wills.

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- GhostOfJefferson
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 10:24am
  The whole point of the exercise is that you don’t get to decide what they can or cannot say.
  
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- encinom
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 10:37am
  Tax the churches, that is the simple answer. The Church want the benefit of being a tax exempt organization, well that comes with certain restraints.
  
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- GhostOfJefferson
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 10:46am
  Incorrect. Left wing institutions get tax exempt status, and they don’t have to hide their ideologies.
  
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- encinom
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 2:08pm
  Not quite true Ghosty, but you conservatives have never let the facts get in the way of a good story. 501(c) organizations (their are various types and the different types have different reporting requirements). Churches file as religious organizations, not political ones. If they want to get into politics let them no longer be houses of worship or its time to tax them like any other business.
  
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ScreaminEagle
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 10:10am
Abolish the FED, IRS, IMF All alphabet soup garbage.

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- Dr.LithiumDouchebag
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 10:19am
  and most importantly O B A M A
  
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Maldo
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 10:10am
I believe it says, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;” Just saying.

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- StarkeRaving
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 7:42pm
  Amen
  
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Sirfoldallot
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 10:08am
This has again pinned our 1st Amendment rights of government controle over the people. If Obama get reelected it’s time 4 civil war.

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- barber2
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 10:13am
  That is just what the ” Let’s Have A Revolution” Crowd/ some known here as the Ron Paul Crowd….are hoping for….
  
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Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 10:07am
Expect that the administration will come down with fury and flames this time around; they cannot put up with any defiance by anyone who they see as an enemy of the state.

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- CatB
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 10:15am
  Black churches and Democrats have been doing this forever. They only have a problem with it when it is others also doing what they do .. imagine that … hypocrisy on the left ;-)
  
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jackact
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 10:03am
Repeal the 16th amendment, institute the Fair Tax Act and let’s marginalize and eradicate the IRS.
47% of Americans are not contributing.
And the IRS is now suffocating religious organizations.
Or “We the Federall Income Taxpayers” can utilize the nuclear option come next April 15th.
Not kidding here.

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- barber2
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 10:11am
  JACK: but wouldn’t Big Brother lose this IRS control over the people ?! If taxes were simpler, the IRS would probably have a harder time prosecuting people for failing to decipher all of the mess of tax law and the changes made each year ?!! And the IRS is the KGB of the executive branch,….
  
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Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 10:02am
Jeremiah Wright, Al Sharpton, and The Reverend Jatson have been recorded partisan preaching, WHAT HAS THE IRS DONE TO THEM???

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- Bejabber
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 10:20am
  Oh good one. yes when is thses revs going to jail?
  
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soybomb315_II
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 10:01am
i dont think individuals should be tax exempt and i dont think organizations should be tax exempt.

One rule for everyone – no special groups

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- GhostOfJefferson
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 10:58am
  I, on the other hand, do not believe any individual or institution should have to pay anything even remotely resembling an income tax (or profit tax). The very idea of those kinds of taxes is 100% socialist.
  
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- Gonzo
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 10:59am
  Charitable deductions are going the way of the Dodo bird anyway, no matter who gets elected. That will separate the wheat from the chaff when it comes to tithing pretty fast.
  
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- soybomb315_II
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 11:27am
  i agree, taxes should be as low as possible. Only way to make that hapen is to not exempt classes of people or particular businesses. In order to show people how much of a burden the government is – we need to make sure everyone feels the yoke
  
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thibx
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 10:00am
why in the hell do they wait for 1 year they should be doing this often. they are lots of attorneys who want to take them on. if they win pay your taxes and raise hell.

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hornz
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 9:53am
When churches start paying taxes I’d agree with letting them get all political. As it stands now, no, they should stfu until they pay up.

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- John 3:16
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 10:00am
  There are about 50% of Americans NOT paying taxes who get to vote, does this apply to their right to vote since they pay no taxes? If it does than I agree.Otherwise pastors have a right to free speech. Oh and how about all the tax free liberal Orgs. like ACORN. Double standards here. I think so.
  
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- izukiddin
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 10:02am
  Horney, you just don’t get it.
  
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- kaydeebeau
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 10:03am
  So you are saying that a church must pay first to be covered by the First Amendment? So you are fine with government controlling some speech and you don’t think that eventually becomes controlling all speech?
  
  No wonder we are in such a mess in this country
  
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- barber2
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 10:07am
  HORNZ: Spoken like a typical atheistic , Big Brother government guy. Let me guess, you are an Obama Big Brother dude whose moral code is founded on the Alinsky Rules for Radicals ! Big Brother does NOT like religions who ” place another God before Big Brother.” And that “stfu” touch in your comment : such class, such good taste, such anger . And also so Alinsky, so Lefty, and so radical…. NOBAMA 2012 NO DEMOCRATS 2012
  
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- hornz
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 10:28am
  It’s very flawed thinking to mix religion and politics. Those are two very separate entities.
  
  Conflating the two shows weak character. Those who vote strictly based on their religious beliefs are of the weakest mind.
  
  And like I said if these rich churches paid taxes I’d have a change of heart.
  
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