> Churches to put their tax status on the line for the GOP?
> By: Steve Benen
> Federal tax law, as it relates to tax-exempt religious ministries, is
> pretty clear - houses of worship may not legally intervene in political
> campaigns, either in support of or opposition to a candidate or a party.
> Those who violate the law run the risk of losing their tax-exempt status.
> With some regularity, the IRS reminds houses of worship about this,
> warning them about the dangers of ignoring the law.
>
> A far-right group in Arizona, however, has an idea: conservative churches
> should ignore the law - and in the process, test the law - on purpose.
>
> http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121029464937179517.html?mod=special_page_campaig...
>
> A conservative legal-advocacy group is enlisting ministers to use their
> pulpits to preach about election candidates this September, defying a tax
> law that bars churches from engaging in politics.
>
> Alliance Defense Fund, a Scottsdale, Ariz., nonprofit, is hoping at least
> one sermon will prompt the Internal Revenue Service to investigate,
> sparking a court battle that could get the tax provision declared
> unconstitutional.
>
> Those ministers the ADF are targeting need to think long and hard about
> this, because they're playing a game they're going to lose here.
>
> http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/archives/15487.html
>
> It seems lately that when civil liberties plaintiffs challenge something,
> they lose (e.g. NYPD bag searches on subways were ruled not to violate the
> 4th amendment), and when right-wing groups challenge the constitution,
> they have a fair shot at winning (overturning elections, mandating voter
> ID, etc.). This will be interesting.
>
> Bush won't bother taxing his base. They send the IRS after people like
> Willy Nelson and Wesley Snipes, yet Cheney has "deferred" his taxes for 8
> years.
>
>