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Do you believe the only way to be political is to endorse a candidate?
No if you wish to widen political to things like one should help your fellow human then all churches should be political. I believe that the tax code stipulates what they can and cannot do and as long as any group stays within the terms of the tax code they are not doing anything wrong but if they set outside of it then they are. I would think that the FFRF is doing exactly what their charter states and would have been accepted by the IRS as non political. That is just my guess as I am not a constitutional or tax expert nor do I play on on City Data.
I thought I did. There are all sorts of non-profit groups that get ignored by the IRS.
The FFRF itself is a non-profit, yet it exists to be a political entity.
I think you're naive.
From their website:
Quote:
What is the Foundation's purpose?
The purposes of the Freedom From Religion Foundation, Inc., as stated in its bylaws, are to promote the constitutional principle of separation of state and church, and to educate the public on matters relating to nontheism.
Promoting a constitutional principle and educating the public do not qualify the FFRF as a political entity.
Do you know of an instance wherein the FFRF supported a political candidate or campaign? That would be prohibited.
All they do is politics. They are purely a political group, dabbling in religion.
And a poor job at that.
Here are the IRS rules. Please point out which part you believe the FFRF has violated:
Quote:
The Restriction of Political Campaign Intervention by Section 501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt Organizations
Under the Internal Revenue Code, all section 501(c)(3) organizations are absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office. Contributions to political campaign funds or public statements of position (verbal or written) made on behalf of the organization in favor of or in opposition to any candidate for public office clearly violate the prohibition against political campaign activity. Violating this prohibition may result in denial or revocation of tax-exempt status and the imposition of certain excise taxes.
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.
I understand being tired. I also understand running a 501(c)3 organization and having to stay out of anything political. I was president of a community band and had to turn down political candidates who wanted us to play for campaign rallies. We did play for an inauguration once, but we viewed that as a civic activity not specifically political.
From the link: "Contributions to political campaign funds or public statements of position (verbal or written) made on behalf of the organizationin favor of or in opposition to any candidate for public office clearly violate the prohibition against political campaign activity. Violating this prohibition may result in denial or revocation of tax-exempt status and the imposition of certain excise taxes."
BTW, this regulation page is only 3 paragraphs long. I encourage everyone to go read it. Religion isn't even mentioned. The regulations apply to every organization that is granted tax-exempt status under the IRS regulations. They are all treated the same. Churches, community theater, libraries, food pantries, symphony orchestras, free health clinics, art institutes, community bands, etc.
Well, gee, don't go around confusing folks with facts!
Clinton routinely appeared in black churches every time he got in trouble. He is called 'the first black president" for a reason. No one seemed to mind that, though.
Actually this article explains in depth why that label was given to him (by Toni Morrison originally).
Quote:
“People misunderstood that phrase,” Morrison would later say. “I said he was being treated like a black on the street, already guilty, already a perp.”
Now, one can make all sorts of arguments over whether the pursuit of Clinton was, in fact, analogous to how black people have been regarded across American history. But Morrison was not giving Clinton an award. She was welcoming him into a club which should not exist.
That said, presidents have attended church for reasons sincere and not so sincere and I don't think having a president attend a church is what's at issue in this discussion. A church isn't endorsing a president's politics by allowing them to visit, anymore than your church would be endorsing my politics by allowing me to visit.
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