Are religious radio stations Tax Exempt? Can they get fined?

[Nikepallas]

I ask this question because my client listens to a religious program every weekday. (Now I'm not stopping my client from listening to the station in any way. I usually try to zone out the show or find something else to do...kind of take my break during that time.) I did hear a show -before his normal program start-today that was ranting and all that about the "Taking the Christmas out" Bull crap but then The person said something that really sounded like it could cause some trouble. If the Program is tax exempt I think it did a HUGE NO NO!!!

The person talking stated because this Christmas issue was so important he was glad Bush was in office and that Bush needed your (listeners) help and prayers so that he gets the "right" supreme court judge into office. He said we (he and the listeners) must be ready to fight for when that supreme court justice vote comes up.

Now if I remember correctly didn't the ACLU get in trouble for stating that people should vote for Kerry. If that is true could not the radio program get in trouble as well? Or doesn't that door swing both ways?

Mind you I respect other peoples right to worship as they see fit but if a person is using a radio program like a Preacher would use the pulpit on Sunday then shouldn't the same rules apply?

[Robbien]

1. Tax exempt organization are not allowed to sponsor political causes

However Bush's faith-based programs have blurred the lines so much the IRS has almost given up the fight in all cases except those where the organization says the actual words "Vote for so and so or such and such"

or so I believe.

[Anakin Skywalker]

2. Bwahahahahahahah!

"...he was glad Bush was in office and that Bush needed your (listeners) help and prayers so that he gets the "right" supreme court judge into office".

I am suing you for causing me to laugh so hard I fell to the ground. :)

[Nikepallas]

3. OH NO!!! you are taking away my religious freedom to make you

laugh sooo hard.

[NYC]

4. Smirking Chimp article re Christmas.

http://www.smirkingchimp.com/print.php?sid=19171

"What we are witnessing here are hate crimes against Christianity, " all-around sane guy Jerry Falwell alleged in a December 11 column. He said that "spiritual Grinches in our nation are accelerating their war against Christmas as never before."

Let's take a deep breath here, before we go on with this nuttiness. Way back when, there was no Santa Claus. There was a Saint Nicholas. He was a Catholic Bishop in what is now called Turkey. He gave presents to poor children. After his death, he became a folklore figure whose practices spread across Europe. Saint Nicholas' Day was celebrated December 6th, when children would leave out sweets and treats for the Saint and he'd reward them with presents. After the Protestant Reformation in the sixteenth century, the feasting and veneration of Catholic saints were banned. But, Saint Nicholas had become such a custom that his day was merged with Christmas Day, presents and all, and he went under-cover, using such non-Catholic names as Weinnacthsmann, Father Christmas and Pierre Noel.