Ending God's Tax Exempt Status

Originally Posted by Clodfobble

Except for the fact that those semantics also apply to other nonprofit organizations who seek to grow.

And I stated that if there was a year in which they wanted to apply for a waiver for that year to do that, at the expense of their services, then they could do so.
But, not growth being their sole purpose, that is profit.

[lumberjim]

Originally Posted by rkzenrage

And I stated that if there was a year in which they wanted to apply for a waiver for that year to do that, at the expense of their services, then they could do so.
But, not growth being their sole purpose, that is profit.

ORLY?

Originally Posted by lumberjim

ORLY?

True, poorly chosen wording, however more than once I stated churches do some charity, but only as a fraction of their activities.

[dar512]

Originally Posted by rkzenrage

True, poorly chosen wording, however more than once I stated churches do some charity, but only as a fraction of their activities.

I also belong to the CCFA (Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America). They do no charity work and yet they are a non-profit.

[lumberjim]

yeah, sure. so this thread is about wanting to remove the churchs' tax exempt status. unless you also do it to the rest of the non profits, it aint right. 195 posts about that? i was only reading the drama.

[lumberjim]

So, no preference about large families or contraception, then? was i thinking of some other church?

[dar512]

Originally Posted by lumberjim

So, no preference about large families or contraception, then? was i thinking of some other church?

Ah. I wasn't thinking about increasing the flock in that way.

No to the first and yes, but to the latter.

There is no pressure at all to have large families. Most folks in the area have two or three. That's not to say we don't have any large families. But no pressure to do so.

As to the other - globally, there is a strict prohibition against contraception. Locally, it's more of a don't ask don't tell sort of thing. Once you're in the church and married, no one is going to ask if you're on the pill or whatnot. The question only gets asked when going through the marriage preparation. And even then my experience is that most priests ask something along the lines of "If you are blessed with children, will you receive them gladly".

*shrug* No organization run by mortal man is perfect.

[lumberjim]

well, Christianity to start.....but I think the real money was in sects. Catholicism, surely...Protestants later.....

I'm out of my depth when it gets detailed though.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Most non-profits (tax exempt) do no charity work, or so little it doesn't amount to anything. That said, the tax code separates religious organizations into a separate category from charities and non-profits.
As a matter of fact, if you look at Tax code: TITLE 26 > Subtitle A > CHAPTER 1 > Subchapter F > PART I > § 501, there are almost 30 different categories of tax exempt organizations. Things like Boy/girl Scouts, cemeteries, fraternities and the Rotary club are exempt, but I don't see them doing much charity work.

I forgot to add the local gun club with over 3,000 members. No charity there.

[tw]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

Most non-profits (tax exempt) do no charity work, or so little it doesn't amount to anything. That said, the tax code separates religious organizations into a separate category from charities and non-profits.

I can understand a non-profit organization that, for example, operates as a club. However what is the purpose of defining a non-profit that has no assets and no income? Do its members at least pay dues for the refreshments? Is it only a fixture to legally protect its members from what happens at the party? I don't understand the reason for a non-profit organization that has zero assets.

[xoxoxoBruce]

I can only guess that most any group that falls in that category would handle at least some dues or donations to cover activities. This would shield them from accounting and tax liability for the treasury that's keep in an envelope in Mildred's underwear drawer.

[Clodfobble]

Originally Posted by tw

However what is the purpose of defining a non-profit that has no assets and no income?

I don't think anyone has suggested the existence of such an organization...

[tw]

Originally Posted by Clodfobble

I don't think anyone has suggested the existence of such an organization...

See the web site posted by xoxoxoBruce. Maybe half of the non-profits are listed with zero assets and zero income. So the question is why would these organizations ever go throught the headaches of legal status and annual IRS filings when no money is even involved?

[tw]

To put numbers to this. Americans donate about $100 billion per year to religious organizations. That amounts to 1 in every 3 dollars donated by private Americans to all charities.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Do those numbers come from claims on individual IRS returns, or from declarations of the recipients? I surprised it's only 1 in 3.