Hi Band on the Run, I do agree with you that the wording of the legal definition of charitable makes more sense if an organization advances religious principles instead of that only religious organizations can be charitable. I also feel that granting tax exempt status to some religions and not all religions (i.e., religions that would practise human sacrifice or prostitution) is in a sense unconstitutional because of the Establishment and Free Excercise clauses of the Constitution and Amendments. Unfortunately I am not a Supreme Court Justice, because I would try to intrepret the constitution in the context of what the Constitutional writers were trying to create. The Supreme Court almost seems to be using the authority of the Court to legislate.
Do you know where I can easily find the wording of the law, statute, or regulation on the internet to help in writing my letter to the IRS? I agree with you that more than 100,000 letters are needed to update tax exempt legislation and regulations. I was hoping that if the IRS would open a case file, it would motivate exJWs and JWs with doubts to write about their experiences to the IRS.
Do you know how to inspire exJWs and JWs with doubts to join a campaign to send emails or letters to their representatives and the IRS? It would take me about a half hour once or twice a month to send emails or letters to federal legislators by saving a standard letter on my computer and quickly modifying one or two sentences.
I would also like to know more about what the WTBTS submits to the IRS. I plan on writing an FOIA request to the IRS to obtain copies of the WTBTS' most recent application for tax exempt status and annual filing.
Do you know where I can find an electronic copy of James Madison's "Memorial and Remonstrance"? Since James Madison is hailed as the "Father of the Constitution" for being instrumental in drafting the Constitution and as the key champion and author of the Bill of Rights, his stance against imposing a religious tax might be helpful in overcoming objections to revoke an organization's tax exempt status on purely religious grounds.
Is there someway that the ACLU could be inticed to support evaluating the tax exempt status of an organization within a legal framework and not based solely on whether an organization states that it is a religion? I would be happy if tax exempt organizations would be required not to promote marking and/or shunning (i.e., discriminate against) ex-members of their organization. I would be ecstatic if tax exempt organizations would also be required not to promote nor use Theocratic Warfare Strategy (i.e., lying) on the general public, government officials, and the courts.
Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,
Robert