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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsAtheist's Asks IRS to Probe Megachurch Pro-Trump Rally,Violates Rule Banning Political Participation
An atheist group advocating for the separation of church and state has written a letter to the IRS asking that an upcoming rally for President Donald Trump be investigated due to it being hosted by a Miami, Florida megachurch, in violation of IRS regulations on nonprofit organizations, including churches.
Rebecca Markert, the legal director of nonprofit Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF), sent the letter Tuesday to Mary Epps, who leads the IRS's Exempt Organizations Examinations department. In the letter, Markert says IRS rules are being thwarted because Ministerio Internacional El Rey Jesús (King Jesus International Ministry) plans to host the rally, set for Friday in Miami.
"FFRF respectfully request that the IRS commence an immediate investigation into King Jesus Ministry's violation prohibiting 501(c)(3) organizations from participating in and/or intervening in a political campaign," wrote Markert. "The IRS should take appropriate action to remedy any violations that occurred or which continue to occur."
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The Wizard
(12,552 posts)RKP5637
(67,112 posts)Can't wait for this ass to be gone from the WH.
Ferrets are Cool
(21,110 posts)calimary
(81,527 posts)Pacifist Patriot
(24,654 posts)They tend to get ignored. By everyone.
PatrickforO
(14,594 posts)Trump rallies don't belong in churches, and if it is in a church then it isn't a church and it needs to be taxed.
warmfeet
(3,321 posts)How exactly does belief in some god reduce ones obligations to all other living things?
Edited to the word some before the word god.
RVN VET71
(2,698 posts)(That was a purely rhetorical question. The IRS, under Trump -- and it is under Trump -- is just another rogue organization within a corrupt regime.)
kooth
(219 posts)... is a great organization -- trying to keep the religious communities on the up and up! Way to go indeed!
demigoddess
(6,645 posts)It can be understood through tough, thorough, thought though.
SergeStorms
(19,204 posts)"Churches" in the U.S. have been violating laws, seemingly forever. Their tax exemptions should be examined on a periodic basis to make sure they're strictly adhering to the laws. Some of these "churches" have unbelievable amounts of money stashed away, doing nothing more than making them more wealthy, and therefore more powerful, to unscrupulous politicians who adore their money. It's time to tax these churches to the fullest extent of the tax laws.
Red Mountain
(1,739 posts)For tax exempt status. Kind of like land placed in present use for agriculture of forestry.
If found in violation they may be liable for back taxes.
If farmers can do it why can't churches?
Initech
(100,108 posts)The free ride should be over for the clergy, it's way past time to start heavily reinforcing the Johnson Amendment.
MasonDreams
(756 posts)madville
(7,412 posts)Like many black churches in South Carolina? Hopefully none of this negatively affects them.