Some Churches in the US, big ones, have overstepped their bounds and

[Thtwudbeme]

should therefore lose their tax exempt status.

Case in point, this thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4935864

I have seen "pro-Bush" petitions come out of some of the evangelical churches here in NC also.

If a church presumes to take a political stance, and attempt to play a role...ANY role...in governing the population, then they need to pay taxes fair and damned square.

Stephanie

[ComerPerro]

1. I am convinced that the only way to stop this

is to set up liberal and Democratic PAC's, but register them as a church. That way, we can campaign tax free, and maybe even raise some money.

[patrice]

3. Is that really possible?

Interesting . . . .

[ComerPerro]

4. I don't see why it wouldn't be. Just start a church, register it

and then use it to run political campaigns.

That's what Pat Robertson did

[ElaineinIN]

5. Unfortunately, not possible.

Sorry to be a diary pimp, but I did a diary entry at Daily Kos on the subject, which hopefully is linked here:


http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/5/6/122855/5838

One commenter correctly points out that a church can't make a 501(h) election, for what its worth.

Which is not to say that stuff that violates Section 501(c)(3) isn't happening all over the place and isn't getting enforced, for various reasons

[ComerPerro]

6. Well, what I am saying is, not to set it up actually as one

But instead establish it as a church, and then simply use it as a PAC

[ElaineinIN]

7. I guess

although I wouldn't volunteer to be the person who's social security number is associated with that, 'cause you'll be liable for the back taxes and all kinds of penalty, interest and excise taxes if it does get revoked, which is more likely to happen to a stand alone church as opposed to a part of a large denomination. Assuming you could get it to be exempt in the first place by meeting the test for a church without committing perjury on filing a federal form.

I'm just sayin'.....Intentionally breaking the law is never a good plan... just ask Tom DeLay! Plus, I'd like to think that democrats don't do that kind of crap, but I suppose I'm naive like that.

[ComerPerro]

8. Too true

[TallahasseeGrannie]

2. Agreed. n/t