Comments on: Is Maine’s Diocese violating tax laws?

By: Tim

Tim — Mon, 25 May 2009 04:22:52 +0000

Sure enough, the Catholic Church is butting in where it doesn’t belong and should be punished with taxation for its attempt to incorporate bigotry into the State of Maine’s constitution. While we are at it, lets tax the devil out of the Mormons as well, in every state, because God knows they should lose their tax exempt status.

By: Allan

Allan — Sun, 24 May 2009 06:31:17 +0000

Archibald Pyflier – You are actually incorrect. Most churches get away with it, but any non-profit can not engage in lobbying activities as well. They can only engage in educational activities (representing both sides). But in this case the church itself is getting the signatures and using their own people on the payroll on tv to promote it. Here is the IRS link discussing it. http://www.irs.gov/charities/article/0,,id=163392,00.html

By: Allan

Allan — Sun, 24 May 2009 06:27:40 +0000

I love the Empowering Spirits Foundation. They do such great things in the communities they are involved in. Keep up the good work!

By: Gene

Gene — Sun, 24 May 2009 05:28:12 +0000

This from the IRS Web site.

“The IRS has published Revenue Ruling 2007-41, which outlines how churches, and all 501(c)(3) organizations, can stay within the law regarding the ban on political activity. Also, the ban by Congress is on political campaign activity REGARDING A CANDIDATE [emphasis added]; churches and other 501(c)(3) organizations can engage in a limited amount of lobbying (including ballot measures) and advocate for or against issues that are in the political arena. The IRS also has provided guidance regarding the difference between advocating for a candidate and advocating for legislation.”

Thus, in general, churches and other exempt organizations CAN campaign for legislation, but not for particular candidates.

I wonder is all those (mostly) Baptist churches which invited Obama and, more frequently, Billary to make campaign speeches during supposed church services are getting their hands slapped by the IRS?

It’s also interesting to note that churches, unlike other organizations, don’t have to apply for tax-exempt status because such status is presumed under the current law.

By: drewski

drewski — Sat, 23 May 2009 18:10:19 +0000

There is one area where the Catholic Church is different. Unlike Mormons or Baptists or any other faith, the Church has diplomatic standing. The Roman Catholic Church is hierarchical, so they take orders from Vatican City. Vatican City is a foreign country, just like Peru or Zambia. This is not a US-based church in Maine, it is a church which is also a state with diplomatic standing. That needs to stop, because it’s foreign interference in US domestic affairs.

By: gyzmo

gyzmo — Sat, 23 May 2009 15:37:34 +0000

petition.com lets get one going…

By: JERRY

JERRY — Sat, 23 May 2009 07:56:17 +0000

PLAIN AND SIMPLE:IF THE CHURCH GETS INVOLVED IN POLITICS;THAN THEY LOOSE THEIR SPECIAL TAX EXEMPT STATUS!

By: KaninZ

KaninZ — Sat, 23 May 2009 03:46:52 +0000

It’s PAST time that Congress and the IRS takes on organized religious groups (Catholics and Mormons..looking at YOU!) that act as PACs.

By: Bill S.

Bill S. — Fri, 22 May 2009 21:09:41 +0000

To comment on what Jessi says, I hope that no one would ever attempt to illegally disrupt the collection of signatures for this referendum. As vehemently opposed to it as we may be, this is how the political system in Maine works and it is the political system all citizens of Maine are entitled to exploit to the fullest extent of the law, as gay and lesbian citizens did in getting the bill passed through campaigns and lobbying.

Counter the referendum through legal means. Spread awareness and campaign, campaign, campaign!

By: Ronn

Ronn — Fri, 22 May 2009 20:34:35 +0000

It is about time someone has taken this type of action. I think that everytime a church, particularly the catholic church, attempt enter into the political area like this new appeals should be made to the IRS. There is a such thing as seperation of church and state and if they continue to try to shape teh course of event them they should be taxed as a polictical organization