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February 29, 2008

Opinion: IRS Scrutiny of Sen. Obama's Church Is Problem for All Charities

The Internal Revenue Service’s investigation of Sen. Barack Obama’s appearance at the United Church of Christ raises concerns about freedom of speech for all nonprofit organizations, writes John K. Wilson on The Huffington Post.

“The danger is that when nonprofit groups are silenced, corporate America will be able to dominate even more thoroughly the public debate,” says Mr. Wilson, author of several books on politics and founder of the Institute for College Freedom.

If IRS rules were to be taken literally, Mr. Wilson says, a church or nonprofit group would be required to “give the same speaking opportunity to every single candidate for president.”

At the onset of this primary season, that would have meant nearly 50 speakers. Since “These groups cannot afford to provide an outlet for every nutcase candidate to speak, and they cannot risk the legal liability of failing to invite every possible speaker,” the rules effectively prohibit nonprofit groups from hosting politicians.

He fears that threats by the IRS to revoke tax-exempt status under such conditions will silence political speech, particularly at colleges and other nonprofit groups. The IRS must realize, Mr. Wilson says, that “fraudulent groups can be stopped without suppressing the political speech of legitimate churches and activist organizations.”

(Free registration is required to view the AP article on the Los Angeles Times site.)

Friday February 29, 2008 | Permalink

Comments

1. That’s right! The right to free speech for non-profits must be strongly protected. Being a non-profit does not mean that the organisation and its members lose their basic human political right to free speech. It is actually through non-profits that peoples human rights are protected and promoted. No government agency should stop this!

   — Erlinda    Mar 1, 08:18 AM    #

2. There’s a difference between protecting the free speech rights of public charities in general and the involvement of religious groups in electoral politics. I’m fine on the former and the law allows lots of elbow room. I believe in a full separation of church and state and hence think any group that promotes religion should be banned from any political acts.

   — Ron Clement    Mar 5, 05:13 PM    #

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