IRS, atheists, and tax-exempt status of churches

[Julsey]

http://ffrf.org/news/news-releases/item/20968-ffrf-irs-settle-suit-over-church-politicking

 

FFRF, IRS settle suit over church politicking

 

July 17, 2014

The Freedom From Religion Foundation and the Internal Revenue Service reached an agreement today (July 17) that resolves for the time being an ongoing federal lawsuit over non-enforcement of restrictions on political activity by tax-exempt religious organizations and churches. 

“This is a victory, and we’re pleased with this development in which the IRS has proved to our satisfaction that it now has in place a protocol to enforce its own anti-electioneering provisions,” said FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor. 

“Of course, we have the complication of a moratorium currently in place on any IRS investigations of any tax-exempt entities, church or otherwise, due to the congressional probe of the IRS. FFRF could refile the suit if anti-electioneering provisions are not enforced in the future against rogue political churches.” 

FFRF filed suit against the IRS shortly after the presidential election in 2012, based on the agency’s reported enforcement moratorium, as evidenced by open and notorious politicking by churches. Pulpit Freedom Sunday, in fact, has become an annual occasion for churches to violate the law with impunity. The IRS, meanwhile, admittedly was not enforcing the restrictions against churches. A prior lawsuit in 2009 required the IRS to designate an appropriate high-ranking official to initiate church tax examinations, but it had apparently failed to do so. 

The IRS has now resolved the signature authority issue necessary to initiate church examinations. The IRS also has adopted procedures for reviewing, evaluating and determining whether to initiate church investigations. While the IRS retains “prosecutorial” discretion with regard to any individual case, the IRS no longer has a blanket policy or practice of non-enforcement of political activity restrictions as to churches. 

In addition to FFRF’s lawsuit, IRS enforcement procedures with respect to political activity by tax-exempt organizations have been the subject of intense scrutiny by Congress. As a result, the IRS is reviewing and implementing safeguards to ensure evenhanded enforcement across the board with respect to all tax exempt organizations. 

Until that process is completed, the IRS has suspended all examinations of tax-exempt organizations for alleged political activities. The current suspension, however, is not limited to church tax inquiries. 

Until the IRS has satisfied congressional overseers that objective procedures are firmly in place with regard to political activities by all tax-exempt organizations, the judge in FFRF’s pending suit would not currently be able to order any immediate or effective relief. 

As a result, FFRF has reached a point where no further immediate changes realistically can be accomplished through continued litigation. The dismissal of the pending action, however, is expected to be without prejudice, which means that further legal action by FFRF to enforce anti-electioneering provisions is not precluded in the future if necessary.

 

[shali]

All the little pieces of the puzzle seem to be coming together!

[Julsey]

Agreed!  It's so fascinating to watch prophecy be fulfilled!

[Buddy]

What part of the prophecy are you referring to

[ladybug]

Agreed.  World events are moving so fast.  Hard to keep up with what new harm is being done to mankind.  The nations are roaring.  But Jehovah by means of the Kingdom will set matters straight.   

[dennisdg]

Interesting times a head of us...

[shali]

What part of the prophecy are you referring to

She no doubt is referring to BTG being completely devoured.  She isn't going to like losing her riches to the gov't!

[seasonedWithsalt]

News article from Fox : http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/11/03/pastors-endorsing-candidates-in-defiance-irs-rules/

Let's see what happens this time

[Trina]

This is something to be excited about! Exactly spoken of in unit new book, God's Kingdom Rules, page 223, paragraph 6.

This would be considered an attack on Babylon The Great because it states in this paragraph..." How devastating will the attack be? The nations of the UN will plunder the prostitute's wealth, devour her, and "completely burn her."

Revelation 17:16 16 And the ten horns that you saw and the wild beast, these will hate the prostitute and will make her devastated and naked, and they will eat up her flesh and completely burn her with fire.

Can you imagine how quickly so many of the churches will fold without financial backing from political parties whom they promote? As if within one day....yay progress!!,

[Hartley]

We are indeed privileged to know in advance the future. No other people have this privilege.