The whole point is John, that *all* churches COULD get into politics IF they want to lose their tax emempt 501c3 status... They could pay property and all the other taxes if they want.
All depends on what "going into politics" means. Ah, does that sound familiar? If it means, churches organizing political campaigns for specific candidates, donating to candidates, etc., I assume that is verboten. Though I don't really know.
But as voter education places, it strikes me they don't and probably, under current law, shouldn't lose their tax exempt status. In New York elections, state and city, members of all parties appear in certain churches. I assume that's voter education. A little like the Rotary Club having them in for lunch and a talk.
Now, to the business of buying ads in newspapers, which is what got this started. I genuinely don't know. But my guess is that so long as they were not campaigning for specific candidates or parties, it would be permissible.
If anyone knows anything seriously about the way this law gets applied, it might help. |
