Washington – Hartford Mayor Eddie A. Perez asked Congress today to investigate the IRS’ threat to strip a church of its tax-exempt status over Barack Obama’s speech to a church convention in Hartford in 2007.
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“If the IRS is successful, every church synagogue and mosque that invites an elected official to speak on issues such as the war in Iraq, abortion, the environment, labor and other issues of social justice could fear loss of their non-profit status,” Perez said.
“This IRS action should outrage members of both parties and people of faith throughout the country,” Perez said.
He is asking U.S. Sens. Christopher Dodd and Joseph Lieberman and U.S. Rep. John B. Larson to intervene.
A letter from the IRS to the church says candidates are permitted to speak at church functions, but if a candidate is speaking “in his or her capacity as a candidate, then other candidates running for the same office must also be invited.” [courant]
What about that Ebeneezer Baptist Church that always has Fat Al, Hillary & other liberals? Do they ever have conservative candidates? Strip THEM of their 501 c 3 too! No fair!
No, Mike is NOT a conservative!!
The IRS regulations on this are quite clear. A religious organization is not a political one and should not be. A church can invite both speakers and let their members decide for themselves. THEY CANNOT ENDORSE A POLITICAL CANDIDATE WITHOUT THREATENING THEIR OWN TAX EXEMPT STATUS.
What’s the problem? I agree that any religious institution that invites a candidate to speak about his candidacy should have to invite the other candidates, too. A religious institution is intended for religious purposes, not political rallies. So if the proprietors wish to lower the level of their place of worship to that of politics, they should make it an even game and not be allowed to use tax-free dollars to promote one or the other candidate.