A Prop 8 challenge for swankers

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by Kevy Baby

Why would they lose their tax-exampt status?

Because tax exempt status for churches has been conditional on the basis that they refrain from political activity.

ETA: Here are the pertinent lines in the IRS code:

no substantial part of [a 501(c)(3) organization's] activities" may consist of "carrying on propaganda, or otherwise attempting, to influence legislation."9 The second restriction mandates that 501(c)(3) organizations may "not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distributing of statements), any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office."

Yeah, I'm going to have to say there's a pretty good case to be made that the Mormon church's substantial contributions violate the "influence legislation" clause in a big way, so don't count on anything happening.

That said, the IRS has never enforced that clause, and the question of that clause's Constitutionality in regards to free speech has never been challenged.