501(3)C and Political advocacy

[Number Six]

I was at a rally for Ralph Nader and asked him why the provisions of 501(3)C are not being enforced with regard to churches that are blatantly advocating certain candidates? He said it has rarely if ever enforced. I know resources are limited in this department--but it wouldn't take a lot of enforcement to send a clear message that 501(3)C clearly delineates the charities and churches from political action commitees.

[webhick]

I was at a rally for Ralph Nader and asked him why the provisions of 501(3)C are not being enforced with regard to churches that are blatantly advocating certain candidates? He said it has rarely if ever enforced. I know resources are limited in this department--but it wouldn't take a lot of enforcement to send a clear message that 501(3)C clearly delineates the charities and churches from political action commitees.

I have a lot of anger with churches and their "specialness" with regards to non-profits. And part of it stems from this:

http://www.irs.gov/charities/article/0, ... 09,00.html

Except for churches, their integrated auxiliaries, and public charities whose annual gross receipts are normally less than $5,000, organizations will not be treated as described in section 501(c)(3) unless they notify the IRS by applying for recognition of section 501(c)(3) status.

They can't enforce it because they're telling churches right from the get-go that they get the "special snowflake" rules. Start treating them like every other non-profit and maybe they'll be a bit more hesitant about breaking the rules.

[Number Six]

Good points...I give to real humanitarian 501(3)C charities, but am concerned that televangelists who have been running programs on "voting Christian", i.e. only vote for those candidates that will wage war against America's "enemies," but will also be "pro-life" in all cases of pregnancy...There are other coded political issues that fool no one. I would send a CID unit down to the most vociferously political preacher's "study", show him the 501(3)C law, transcripts of his violations--it wouldn't hurt to quote Romans 13/Titus 3:1. Didn't Jesus Christ say, "My kingdom is not of this world", before Caesar? Caesar has a right to enforce common sense laws. Then there are the "pay-triots" who despise 501(3)C because they believe it muzzles the preacher! So they don't really offer their congregants tax deductions, although there are ways to declare deductions even if the church is not 501(3)C.