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(by Caroline May, DailyCaller) – In the wake of the revelations that the Internal Revenue Service targeted conservative groups seeking tax-exempt status, a Chicago-based public interest law firm [has announced] that pro-life groups were also unfairly scrutinized.
The Thomas More Society, a conservative public-interest law firm, announced Wednesday that the IRS excessively probed two of their pro-life clients when they were seeking tax-exempt status – including inquiring about the content of their prayers and pledges that one of the groups would not protest Planned Parenthood.
In the case of the Texas-based Christian Voices for Life, the Thomas More Society charges, the IRS repeatedly questioned the group about the content of its prayer vigils, communications, and activities around abortion facilities.
“The application of Christian Voices for Life clearly indicated that the organization qualified as a charitable organization under section 501(c)(3),” Thomas More Society special counsel Sally Wagenmaker said in a statement.
“The IRS seemed to be intent on denying or delaying tax-exempt status based upon the organization’s pro-life message, rather than any legitimate exemption concern, through its exhaustive, cumbersome questioning,” she added. “The implication that Christian Voices for Life somehow intended to engage in illegal activity was insulting.”
The group eventually received its tax-exempt status.
In the case of the Coalition for Life of Iowa, the Thomas More Society says, an IRS agent called the group and requested a letter pledging that the group would not protest Planned Parenthood.
“In a phone call to Coalition for Life of Iowa leaders on June 6, 2009, the IRS agent ‘Ms. Richards’ told the group to send a letter to the IRS with the entire board’s signatures stating that, under perjury of the law, they do not picket/protest or organize groups to picket or protest outside of Planned Parenthood. Once the IRS received this letter, their application would be approved,” the Thomas More Society wrote in their announcement.
Shortly after the Thomas More Society threatened legal action against the IRS, the group received their tax-exempt status.
“The IRS’s role should only be to determine whether organizations fit the section 501(c)(3) test for ‘charitable, religious, or educational’ qualification, not to inquire about the content of prayers, protests, and petitions,” Thomas More Society special counsel Sally Wagenmaker said.
Reprinted here from DailyCaller.com for educational purposes only. May not be reproduced on other websites without permission from The Daily Caller.
Questions
1. What is the Thomas More Society?
2. What announcement did the Thomas More Society make on Wednesday regarding IRS wrongdoing?
3. What did Thomas More specifically accuse the IRS of doing with the Christian Voices for Life non-profit application?
4. What did the IRS instruct Coalition for Life of Iowa to do as a requirement for receiving tax-exempt status?
5. a) When did Coalition for Life of Iowa receive their tax-exempt status?
b) What does that tell you about the appropriateness of the IRS’s demands?
6. What is the IRS”s role in granting non-profit status to organizations, according to Thomas More special counsel Sally Wagenmaker?
7. Obama admirer and liberal CNBC host Chris Matthews said that it will be very hard for Americans to trust the IRS after the harassment conservative groups have received. Do you agree with Mr. Matthews? Explain your answer.
8. a) What do you think of the fact that many non-profit groups which oppose policies promoted by President Obama were singled out for harassment by the IRS?
-it’s no big deal, or
-it has destroyed the American people’s trust in our government, or
-it was just a coincidence
-etc.
Explain your answer.
b) The media are presenting the image of a president who is not involved in the workings of his administration – that he needs to get involved. President Obama has said he has learned about the scandals that have come to light this week through watching the news like everybody else. The narrative to explain this and the other scandals is that it was just a few low-level people who acted on their own; that the president had no knowledge of any of this. Do you believe this is true? Explain your answer.
Resources
Visit the Thomas More Society website detailing the story (includes links at the bottom of the page) at:
thomasmoresociety.org/2013/05/15/broadening-irs-victims-include-pro-life-advocates-as-congress-investigates
The Thomas More Society is a not-for-profit, national public interest law firm that exists to restore respect in law for life, marriage, and religious liberty. For details, go to: thomasmoresociety.org/about
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