'Tis the season -- for talk of taxes, tax exemptions and politics

Published: 2006-04-21

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- With the federal income tax deadline just behind us and the 2006 campaign season coming up fast, the thoughts of some in Washington are turning not to spring but to tax exemptions and political activity by charitable organizations, including churches. "The religious community has to decide whether they want to be tax-exempt or involved in politics," said Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean in an April 19 interview with the Christian Science Monitor. But Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, called Dean's remarks an "ultimatum to priests, ministers, rabbis and other members of the clergy." "Dean knows full well that houses of worship and religious organizations are afforded a tax-exempt status by the IRS for the same reason that colleges, universities, foundations, nonprofit organizations and most hospitals are -- they service the public good," Donohue said in an April 20 statement.

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