Late last month the National Cathedral of Washington, D.C. issued a press release, still posted on its website which attacked the President of the United States.
The Cathedral urged all Americans to act against President Trump, saying explicitly that “After two years of President Trump’s words and actions, when will Americans have enough?”
In issuing this statement, the Cathedral has crossed the line that bars tax-exempt entities from engaging in partisan political activity. In response, Jews Choose Trump has filed a complaint with the Internal Revenue Service. We requested that the IRS investigate the Cathedral’s outrageous action, and either withdraw the Cathedral’s tax-protected status or impose some other appropriate remedy.
The National Cathedral, like most houses of worship, is a tax-exempt, non-profit institution which, in order to maintain its tax-exempt status, is required to adhere to the rules imposed by the Internal Revenue Code, Section 501(c)(3).
The hallmark of that IRS regulation prohibits representatives of such institutions, acting on behalf of their institutions, from engaging in political activity: activity that would be permitted if it is politically neutral is barred if it “shows a bias or preference in content or structure.” The Cathedral has broken this rule emphatically and clearly. Rev.Rul. 2007-25 I.R.B.
In a press release entitled: “Have We No Decency? A Response to President Trump,” the three faith leaders of the Cathedral scolded Americans for being complicit in what they described as the “dangerous”,” xenophobic”, “bigoted”, “racist”, “violence” of President Trump. The only way to cleanse themselves of that taint, the Washington Cathedral insists, is to act against the President.
The only action Americans can lawfully take against a President whom they believe to be as “dangerous,” as the Cathedral insists President Trump is, is either to vote against him or to impeach him. At the very least, the entire July 30 public statement on the website of the National Cathedral constitutes a “message” that is clearly “opposing a candidate.” In other words, the Cathedral is intervening in a political campaign, as defined in the Internal Revenue Code.
The partisan nature of the Cathedral’s statement is particularly clear because it is biased, and in crucial respects completely false. The Cathedral falsely accuses President Trump of condemn[ing] the residents of an entire American city.” Far from doing any such thing, President Trump instead truthfully described the appalling conditions which Baltimore’s political leaders have – for decades – permitted its residents to endure.
In 2015, Senator Bernie Sanders likened Congressman Cumming’s district to “a third world country.” President Trump’s description of those conditions used the same words and message as Democrats – including the former Mayor of Baltimore: they were only deemed “racist” by the Cathedral, now, because they were uttered by President Trump.
Making clear that its statements are designed to influence voters, the Cathedral did not call on President Trump to repent or to correct those of his statements which the Cathedral condemns. Instead, the demand for action is directed only towards other Americans whom they seek to shame if they don’t heed the Cathedral’s warning: “When does silence become complicity? What will it take for us all to say, with one voice, that we have had enough?”
The church leaders of the National Cathedral are entitled to believe and say exactly whatever they wish. What they cannot do, consistent with the Cathedral’s tax-exempt status, is to act in this way on behalf of the Cathedral – or to use the Cathedral’s tax-exempt resources to promote their own political views.
Therefore, JewsChooseTrump.Org has filed a Form 13909 Referral with the Internal Revenue Service seeking a determination that the National Cathedral has violated the regulations it is required to adhere to it order to maintain its tax-exempt status with its highly partisan political intervention in the current presidential political campaign.
The National Cathedral has been more Liberal Democrat than Christian for a long time. They have no sympathy from me on this.
From their lips to G-d’s ears! I gave up on the charade earlier this year with a commentary piece on another publication by Stephen White explaining why he would deny communion to the President. Such a false opinion about the Sacrament is unconscionable.
Did you not read the last two paragraphs? Jewsfortrump is not asserting that their political views are the only correct ones. They *are* complaining to the IRS that the clergy of the National Cathedral are violating IRS regulations for tax-exempt organziations.
Speaking out on issues, especially social issues, is not against IRS regulations as the previous presidents, the current GOP leadership, and the Trump administration actually, have made clear. Churches, and other faith groups, have the right under the First Amendment to share their religious beliefs including when those beliefs intersect with an issue perceived to ‘partisan.’ Conservative and liberal congregations alike do this when they publicly advocate positions on human sexuality, immigration, abortion etc.
Our rules regarding the separation of Church and State regulate the endorsement of particular political candidates and positions. One clear distinction is that JewsChooseTrump would be a group of private citizens who happen to be Jewish calling out clergy using their notoriety to oppose a politician. Their behavior is sufficiently questionable for JCT to appropriately call into question.
Our rules regarding that separation do not prohibit churches or denominations in general from sharing their views on issues. They cannot endorse a candidate and National Cathedral has not done so. Speaking out on issues is not against any rules. In fact, what church wouldn’t be taxed if the IRS revoked that rule? All churches, liberal and conservative alike, have public positions on issues ranging from immigration to abortion etc.
Their criticism is aimed at President Trump, personally, in a time when he is a candidate for the next term in office.
I will concede that I was wrong on Church/State – rather it’s tax code exemptions. None the less JCT is right to challenge the cathedral clergy. Leftist just don’t having their rules turned back on them.
The cathedral, and all churches, have the right to express their preference for a political candidate. No one questions that.
Now if they choose to express their preference for a political candidate, they should lose their tax-exempt status. That is what the law says.
I’m guessing that the National Cathedral doesn’t really care that much about Donald Trump enough to lose that. Virtue signalling shouldn’t cost money in today’s view of things. They’ll grovel to keep their status.
No chance anything will be done. Black churches have made their pulpits available to politicians for ages. The Boy Scouts of America used their tax exemption status as leverage to broker in the gay agenda.
Trump Supporters talk about “free speech” and allowing church and other faith groups to share their thoughts except when said groups and thoughts disagree with their views. In other words, “free speech is for me not for thee” is their motto. Democrats are the ones most often accused of wanting to strip churches’ tax status because of a church’s social views, and here is an example from a Republican group showing that we cannot put our faith in either party. We must speak our minds, be free to do so, and to do so regardless of an individual’s party preference.
We can do so as individuals. When leaders of a church or denomination do it, that crosses a line.
The question is not whether a church “should” be able to express preference for, or opposition to, a political candidate. I happen to think it should be able to, if it wishes, and its members could then decide whether they wish to support a church opposed to their political opinions.
However, at this point, that’s what the law says: Non-profit organizations for tax purposes can express opinions on public policies, but may not support or oppose political candidates. I think it’s a law which should be changed. If it is enforced, it should be enforced on ALL non-profits, whether right-wing, left-wing, or some wing off another edge. If major leftist non-profits begin to have this called out against them, maybe we’ll get some movement on free speech for all.
No. Why would we?
Read my comment again. Non-profits may not support or oppose political candidates. They are free to discuss governmental issues and political party planks in the light of their moral principles as much as they want to.
The Washington Cathedral, Diocese, and TEC act as the so called ‘self weeding garden’. They choke out the likes of us resulting in a purer abet much smaller plot. The plot is so much smaller it is hardly worth tending and has lost all relevance. The question is why do I care? No one else does.
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