Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Any church that indulges or tries to influence politics should lose thier tax exempt status. They cant have it both ways.
I'll fix that for you
Any ORGANIZATION (to include UNIONS, AFLCIO, NAACP, ) that indulges or tries to influence politics should lose thier tax exempt status. They cant have it both ways
Any ORGANIZATION (to include UNIONS, AFLCIO, NAACP, ) that indulges or tries to influence politics should lose thier tax exempt status. They cant have it both ways
There is one problem: labor unions are 501(c)(5) and they are allowed to lobby under certain restrictions. According to the IRS:
"Seeking legislation germane to the labor or agricultural organization's programs is recognized as a permissible means of attaining its exempt purposes. Thus, a section 501(c)(5) organization may further its exempt purposes through lobbying as its primary activity without jeopardizing its exempt status. However, a section 501(c)(5) organization that engages in lobbying may be required to either provide notice to its members regarding the percentage of dues paid that are applicable to lobbying activities or pay a proxy tax. The exempt purposes of a labor or agricultural organization do not include direct or indirect participation or intervention in political campaigns on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office. A section 501(c)(5) labor or agricultural organization may engage in some political activities, however, so long as that is not its primary activity. However, any expenditures it makes for political activities may be subject to tax under section 527(f)."
It is that bolded statement that is the restriction and also the same one which many labor organizations violate under the guise of being a trade union. Like unto churches, the IRS pretty much does not seem to enforce there own rules.
I totally agree ! They are a business and should be taxed. Whatever happened to the seperation of "church" & "state"?
The "Separation of Church and State" is exactly why churches cannot be taxed, it would violate the first ammendment. To paraphrase, Congress shall make no law that supports or infringes on religion. Government having the ability to tax a church would cross that wall of separation.
There is one problem: labor unions are 501(c)(5) and they are allowed to lobby under certain restrictions. According to the IRS:
"Seeking legislation germane to the labor or agricultural organization's programs is recognized as a permissible means of attaining its exempt purposes. Thus, a section 501(c)(5) organization may further its exempt purposes through lobbying as its primary activity without jeopardizing its exempt status. However, a section 501(c)(5) organization that engages in lobbying may be required to either provide notice to its members regarding the percentage of dues paid that are applicable to lobbying activities or pay a proxy tax. The exempt purposes of a labor or agricultural organization do not include direct or indirect participation or intervention in political campaigns on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office. A section 501(c)(5) labor or agricultural organization may engage in some political activities, however, so long as that is not its primary activity. However, any expenditures it makes for political activities may be subject to tax under section 527(f)."
It is that bolded statement that is the restriction and also the same one which many labor organizations violate under the guise of being a trade union. Like unto churches, the IRS pretty much does not seem to enforce there own rules.
Love love love these Constitutional debates instigated by "religious scholars" who have as much formal legal training as my dog (who actually has the benefit of being able to nap next to a bookcase with real life law textbooks)
These issues are hashed out through decades upon decades of cases brought to the highest courts of the land, volumes of case law, supreme court decisions, debates between great legal minds.... and yet on City-Data, every yokel with Wikipedia thinks he's a Supreme Court Justice.
A very accurate description of separationists who claim the establishment clause is the basis of all standards and decisons re the separation of church and state.
I think the point of that is that a union may 'lobby' for rules and regulation (legislation)....not a CANDIDATE or PARTY
Correct. I meant to highlight these words as well:
"The exempt purposes of a labor or agricultural organization do not include direct or indirect participation or intervention in political campaigns on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office."
True, the finer interpretations are more complex, but it is very important for every yokel (ahem) to have a basic understanding, since some are completely clueless.
My problem with integrating church and state is both are weakened and tyranny is the only result. If the Church can use the force of the State to compel attendance, faith is eliminated. If the State can use the "word of god" to enforce behavior, tyranny is certain.
The “Render unto Caesar…” admonishment is still the best advice on the subject.
In the Establishment Clause of the first amendment
What part of "respecting an establishment of religion" do you people on the far right not understand? You're the second person I know on this forum who blatantly failed to comprehend "respecting an establishment of religion."
Plus the writings of James Madison (who wrote most of the Constitution), Thomas Jefferson, and other Founding Fathers strongly suggest and often explicitly state that they didn't want religion and politics mixing.
Love love love these Constitutional debates instigated by "religious scholars" who have as much formal legal training as my dog (who actually has the benefit of being able to nap next to a bookcase with real life law textbooks)
These issues are hashed out through decades upon decades of cases brought to the highest courts of the land, volumes of case law, supreme court decisions, debates between great legal minds.... and yet on City-Data, every yokel with Wikipedia thinks he's a Supreme Court Justice.
LOL! So true.
Furthermore, why do they care? We have complete religious freedom in this country. You can be Jewish, Muslim, Christian, or one those churches that advertise in the back of Rolling Stone. You can be anything you want or nothing at all when it comes to religion.
I am always left with the conclusion that these folks remain irate because they cannot use government (i.e. public schools) in place of a sword to convert us heathens.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
