How to Preserve Our Freedom of Religion

The most effective way to preserve freedom of religion is to defend the right to believe of those with whose faith we disagree. If freedom of religion can preserve their rights, think of how much more it will preserve ours.

 

People in this country better defend liberty in general as set up by the Constitution, as well as religious freedom, or liberty that the founders of this country fought for will go down the drain.

 

Part of the problem is what you see in the article in regard to churches that have been incorporated and have applied for tax exempt status when there is no law requiring churches to apply for tax exempt statues. 501C3 of the Internal Revenue Code deals with Tax Exemption but 508 C1 has exemptions to being incorporated and the church is listed as an exemption! Read the following from Section 508 of the Internal Revenue Code. Look under EXCEPTIONS LISTED IN Section C 1 UNDER 508 C1, BELOW. Notice that churches are exempted! Notice that based on the law, churches do not have to apply for tax exempt status.
(a) New organizations must notify Secretary that they are applying
for recognition of section 501(c)(3) status
Except as provided in subsection (c), an organization organized
after October 9, 1969, shall not be treated as an organization
described in section 501(c)(3) -
(1) unless it has given notice to the Secretary in such manner
as the Secretary may by regulations prescribe, that it is
applying for recognition of such status, or
(2) for any period before the giving of such notice, if such
notice is given after the time prescribed by the Secretary by
regulations for giving notice under this subsection.
(b) Presumption that organizations are private foundations
Except as provided in subsection (c), any organization (including
an organization in existence on October 9, 1969) which is described
in section 501(c)(3) and which does not notify the Secretary, at
such time and in such manner as the Secretary may by regulations
prescribe, that it is not a private foundation shall be presumed to
be a private foundation.
(c) Exceptions
(1) Mandatory exceptions
Subsections (a) and (b) shall not apply to -
(A) churches, their integrated auxiliaries, and conventions
or associations of churches, or)
Based on the law above churches are exempt and do not have to apply for tax exempt status as a 501C3 Corporation. A Corporation is a creature of the state. When a Church is incorporated its freedom of speech is restricted. Churches need to know the law, that no law requires the church to be 501C3 Incorporated. It may be stated with conclusive proof that American citizens and permanent resident aliens, living and working within the States of the Union ARE NOT SUBJECT to the filing of an IRS Form 1040 and ARE NOT LIABLE for the payment of a tax on income!

 

Houses of worship (aka, churches) are automatically tax exempt, and not required to file for tax exempt status. However, just because you call yourself a "church" doesn't mean you're a church.

There have been cases where the IRS has revoked the tax exempt status of political organization that have claimed they were churches, but weren't. There have been cases where the IRS has revoked the tax exempt status of houses of prostitution that claimed to be a church (claiming that their sexual practices were part of their religion).

If you claim to be a house of worship, it must be reasonably apparrant to the average person that you are one.

Habitat for Humanity is not a church. Coral Ridge Ministries is not a church. TBN is not a church. The Old Time Gospel Hour is not a church. The Moral Majority is not a church. Salvation Army Charities is not a church.

 

Good post JohnV.