Saturday, December 27, 2008
Sounds like it's time for the 'Baptist Ministers Conference of Hudson County' to start paying taxes for their churches
A local group calling itself 'Baptist Ministers Conference of Hudson County' is endorsing state assemblyman L. Harvey Smith for Jersey City Mayor in the election next year. We here at Jersey City Desk do not offer endorsements but think a CHURCH group or CHURCH RELATED group should keep their mouths shut on such topics unless they are ready to start filling the Jersey City coffers with their tax monies. There is a separation of church and state in this country. This group and the churches they represent are breaking this separation. The day the Monumental Baptist Church or any of the churches represented under the banner of the 'Baptist Ministers Conference of Hudson County' want to step up too the plate and pay their taxes to politick from the pulpit or their pulpit via the media, residents of Jersey City or anywhere else this kind of thing goes on should turn a deaf ear to this egregious behavior. Going forward, ignore them, this goes for any religious front group endorsing political candidates.
The same First Amendment that contains our two religion clauses (neither of which says "separation of church and state") also contains our free speech clauses. The actual wording of the Establishment Clause is that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion; or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;" The Amendment also prohibits Congress from "abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceable to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
ReplyDeleteAccording to this post:
If one reads that, how can one allow the IRS to create a law saying that a pastor can not speak out about political issues? How could such a law stand up in court? The Amendment says there can be no Federal law restricting free exercise, and no law restricing free speech. Doesn't that pretty much protect the Bishops and ministers? And more importantly, doesn't it seem to guide the Congress to never pass such a law in the first place?
Hi Dave, thanks for your comment.
ReplyDeleteActually the law on what they are doing is clear:
Under current law, churches and religious organizations are exempt from federal income taxes under Section 510(c)(3) of the IRC. To be eligible for tax-exempt status the 501(c)(3) must not: "participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distributing of statements), any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office." This is an absolute prohibition. Violation of the regulation can result in the loss of tax-exempt status for a nonprofit.
So yes, what they are doing IS against the law tax exempt status wise. I'm not saying they can't use their first amendment rights, I'm saying when they do it as clergy or from the pulpit, they should be paying taxes. If anybody wants that changed and allowable to KEEP tax exempt status, they need to change the law. The IRS looks the other way for the most part when this happens. I think they should start enforcing this very clearly written law.