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The main problem with the Johnson Amendment is that, in practice, it is seldom enforced. Presumably because churches accused of it play the world's tiniest violin to great effect. Also in 2017 Trump issued an executive order directing the Treasury Department to, effectively, not enforce it. As far as i know, that has not been undone.
There is a difference between non-profit and tax exempt. Non-profit status is determined by state laws of incorporation; tax exempt status is determined tax law. For example, most country clubs are non-profit, but they pay real estate taxes on the golf courses; an animal rescue organization might be non-profit, but they have to pay sales taxes.
In VA, churches, temples and so forth are not only non-profit, they are tax exempt. That means they don't pay real estate taxes on their land, ministry housing and even the parking lot; their motor vehicles are tax exempt. If unimproved land is adjacent to improved land, that too is tax exempt. To avoid questions about the use of unimproved land, for example woods, the church can put up a few picnic tables and say it's for outdoor classes. They also are exempt from sales and use taxes. For an overview: https://www.pwcva.gov/assets/documen..._Final_web.pdf
You might not think that if you were a Muslim living in Thailand, or a Chinese or Hindu living in Malaysia. You're too sheltered in your own LITTLE world.
We were talking about US Non-profits. Let's try to keep on topic here.
In America we are allowed freedom. In America a non-profit can actually dictate the rules of their own establishments. That means if I got to a mosque in America and they tell me that I have to abide by their rules, then so be it.
Religious institutions get a lot of leeway - as they should. For example, Virginia only enforces its law against snake handling if there is a report of children present. § 18.2-313. Handling or using snakes so as to endanger human life or health.. https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/...%201960%2C%20c.
Our nation does not make law according to how something is "forced on" someone else.
This doesn’t make any sense whatsoever; for starters, the thread isn’t speaking to law. Even if it were, you did not elaborate on your comment i.e. how/when has same-sex marriage been forced on you (or anyone).
This doesn’t make any sense whatsoever; for starters, the thread isn’t speaking to law. Even if it were, you did not elaborate on your comment i.e. how/when has same-sex marriage been forced on you (or anyone).
We were discussing marriage, which is a legal binding/covenant of 2 people. The question of why we would argue for or against it does have some relevance to a legal discussion.
That said, I'm trying to figure out what your question of it being "forced on" me has anything to do with the price of tea in China? Why is that relevant?
That's not the same thing. The Johnson Amendment prohibits the endorsement of a candidate. It does not state a church has to "stay out of politics and they get tax free money". There is nothing in the Constitution that prohibits a church from saying a law is immoral, or taking a stand. Christian churches have a long history of opposing immoral laws such as slavery and other civil rights violations. Some of the great Civil rights leaders in America are/were preachers.
We were talking about US Non-profits. Let's try to keep on topic here.
In America we are allowed freedom. In America a non-profit can actually dictate the rules of their own establishments. That means if I got to a mosque in America and they tell me that I have to abide by their rules, then so be it.
Oh, I'm sorry...I thought principles were involved.
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