IRS Investigating 60 Tax-Exempt Groups (many are churches)

[Rose Siding]

WASHINGTON Oct 29, 2004 — About 60 charities, churches and other tax-exempt groups are being investigated for potentially breaking federal rules that bar them from participating in political activity, the Internal Revenue Service said Friday.

Such violations would threaten their tax-exempt status, the IRS said.

The investigations involve guidelines for 501(c)(3) groups, which grant tax-exempt status so long as organizations do not participate in political activities like endorsing candidates or making campaign donations.

By law, the IRS cannot reveal names or details of investigations. It did reveal that about 20 of the groups being looked into were churches.

Heightened concerns about improper political activities this election season warranted the creation of a committee of career civil servants to look into potential political violations by tax-exempt groups, according to the agency.

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=210427&CMP=OTC-RSSFeeds0312

[clydefrand]

1. I hope Jerry Falwell is on that list! Whoopeeeeeeeeeeeeee

And Pat Robertson!

[maddezmom]

2. so did the NAACP reveal they were under investigation??

Bet they did, cuz I saw Julian Bond today on one of the talk shows and he was on fire.

[DoYouEverWonder]

3. I wonder how many of these churches

are black churches and how many are fundie churches? Why do I get the feeling not too many fundies are on the list?

[Rev_Karl]

4. maybe some JD people are looking to save their jobs...

under a Kerry administration?

[TaleWgnDg]

5. Hey, IRS, how about investigating this . . . ?????

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WHO WOULD JESUS ELECT?
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/nation/2658470

The Bush-Cheney campaign continued its church-based
outreach by giving religious volunteers 22 timelined tasks.
By July 31, 2004 volunteers are to "send your church directory
to your state Bush-Cheney '04 headquarters or give (it) to a
BC04 field rep." By August 15, "talk to your church's seniors
or 20-30 something group about Bush-Cheney '04." In October,
"finish distributing voter guides in your church" and post notices
"about all Christian citizens needing to vote." An IRS letter to the
Bush and Kerry campaigns noted, "religious organizations are
allowed to sponsor debates, distribute voter guides and conduct
voter registration guides" unless they show "a preference for or
against a certain candidate or party."

SOURCE: Houston Chronicle, July 2, 2004

More web links related to this story are available at:
http://www.prwatch.org/spin/July_2004.html#1088740800
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.

[Psephos]

8. Do I smell a few Pharisees in the Temple?

Time to overturn the moneychangers' tables....
Heh.

[Carolab]

6. WOO HOO!!!!

FAITH-BASED BUST!!!!

[WatchWhatISay]

7. 2 "megachurches" in my area have had Ollie North come speak

in the past year. I didn't go because I didn't think I could stomach the propoganda. Now I wish I had so I could have monitored for anything political he probably said.