Source: Religion News Service
WASHINGTON, D.C., September 28, 2001: A bill recently introduced in Congress would allow churches to spend 20 percent of their money on lobbying and up to 5 percent on campaigning for or against individual candidates without risk of losing their tax-exempt status. Rep. Phil Crane, R-Ill., introduced the “Bright-Line Act of 2001,” which would make clear how much churches can engage in political activities. Currently, churches are allowed to push political causes as long as such activities do not constitute a “substantial” part of the congregation’s work — widely interpreted to be about 5 percent. “Given the state of confusion surrounding the activities allowed by religious organizations, I believe it’s time that Congress draw a bright line between sanctioned and unsanctioned activities that religious groups can participate in,” Crane said. A “church” is an organization so designated by the Internal Revenue Service after meeting certain criteria (see www.t-tlaw.com/cf-14.shtml) and may be of any religion. Only a few Hindu temples (such as the Sringeri Sadhana Center in Pennsylvania and Barsana Dham in Texas) have taken advantage of the considerable freedom and privileges allowed by the church IRS designation. Most Hindu temples are religions organizations under the IRS and subject to much more stringent reporting and limitations.