I go from one religious “demonstration” of unity to another: http://bottomline.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/06/21/12343407-activist-churches-bait-irs-but-agency-wont-bite-so-far?lite
Who fucks with the IRS and then thinks that they can get away with it? Some churches, that’s who and I’m wondering just why they think that pissing off the IRS and trying to antagonize them is, as they put it, “The dawn of a new awakening?” I’m thinking it’s probably best that they let this sleeping dog stay asleep or the most powerful collection agency in the world will land on them like megatons of bricks.
There’s freedom of speech and then separation of church and state… and this seems to really skirt the line on the latter… and I’m not sure I understand why they want to fuck with the IRS or the government as a whole considering that being active in things political would void their tax-exempt status.
And I shudder to think what the IRS could do in that situation like, oh, retroactively make you pay taxes on all that sweet property owned, all that money collected and spent like it was income to and for the church entity. Of all the government agencies in this country, the IRS is the last one I’d want to fuck with and especially when politics are involved.
I even keep going back and scanning the article to see if their motive – other than trying to influence political outcomes – is mentioned. The way I’m understanding this, members of a church can, as individuals dive into political issues, form a legal PAC, stuff like that… but a church entity, as embodied by its pastor (and presumably led by said pastor) can’t because of the IRS (and probably federal election) laws.
It’s something that makes the whole separation of church and state an important issue, especially to our founding fathers because while King George sat on the throne, he was more like a mouthpiece; the Archbishop of Canterbury, head of the Church of England, was behind the scenes calling the shots, making policy, stuff like that. So, yeah, that the FFs wanted to stick something into the Constitution that prevented this from happening in the new land makes sense.
These activist churches are pushing it and, again, I’m thinking that they think that the IRS is going to keep turning the other cheek… when these churches own property valued in the millions of dollars and not one dime of tax has been paid.
Anyone know what they hope to accomplish other than really pissing the IRS off?
Yes I don’t support pastors using their pulpit for political reasons. Now if they could just go after the Jeremiah Wrights and Black Liberation Theology churches
Posted by marriagecoach1 | 24 June 2012, 15:35I figure that if they wanna preach politics, they should leave the pulpit and run for office; otherwise, politics and religion just doesn’t mix. What I still haven’t figured out is why these activist ministers are provoking the IRS in this manner; they only retain their tax-exempt status because the IRS hasn’t revoked that status and giving them a reason to revoke it could prove costly… because the IRS is great at revenge and getting even.
Posted by kdaddy23 | 24 June 2012, 16:15I think it is because if they did the christian world would rise up in revolt and it is not worth the headache although I agree with you, no one should be preaching politics from the pulpit no matter what denomination
Posted by marriagecoach1 | 24 June 2012, 16:22A revolt, huh? Still sounds like a dumb thing to do against the wrong government agency…
Posted by kdaddy23 | 24 June 2012, 16:28