(08-02-2014 03:10 PM)JMUDunk Wrote: (08-02-2014 02:03 PM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote: (08-02-2014 01:48 PM)UCGrad1992 Wrote: My Pastor has stated this possible scenario unfolding where churches could lose their tax-exempt status if they refused to acknowledge gay marriage and not permitting it within the church. The article centers on the FFRF's complaint about the IRS failing to uphold a court ruling to monitor churches' endorsing political candidates or conducting activities considered to be "politicking." I hope that with all the recent controversy and bad PR from the Lois Lerner fiasco the IRS is only offering a token response to the FFRF's complaint. Saying you are going to do something vs. actually enforcing it are two different things. On the other hand, this is a way for the IRS to get their "foot in the door" to monitor churches and the threat that the monitoring will only increase over time and lead to more restrictions placed on churches. If that happens, it's time to draw a line in the sand. Enough is enough! Don't tread on my church!
You don't have a right to a tax deduction for a church or any other private club.
No tax deduction, no taxpayer funding - no restrictions.
The tax code is used ALL the time to encourage behavior we want, and is thought to be beneficial to society, like going to Church. And to punish behavior we don't want- cigarette taxes, sugary drink taxes, booze etc.
It's the law after all. Settled law, that is.
While not addressing the validity of going to Church as being a predictor of being something we 'want',
it is Constitutional to allow a deduction for contributions to a church. But the Constitution does not MANDATE it. There's no right, implied or otherwise, to a tax deduction for a religious entity.
The only place where there might be a Constitutional question, either way, is if there are special parts of the tax code that provide for favorable treatment of religion, that are not available for the non-religious. For example, if a pastor's home is tax free, for example, but a non-religious non-profit can't provide the same housing tax free to their leaders.
But the IRS has rules barring politics using tax free entities. I'd prefer that the IRS strictly enforce that against all churches and while we at it, get rid of the 501 c 3 rules too. And that would hit white churches, black churches, all churches, a lot of unions and liberal groups, and other political groups too. If you are engaged in political advocacy, you shouldn't get a tax deduction. Period.
But then there's the other question as to the benefit to society from a country club or another private club/church. It doesn't seem to really be an effective use of the tax structure.
Other nations d,o it in a better way. They demand that the recipient of the tax deduction prove a tangible benefit accessable to all segments of society (Sorry, Polo Club of Palm Beach - you really aren't going to qualify)