jhine:
"Doesn't that describe most churches including those with no specific anti abortion stance ?
Or would churches that also engage in charitable activities be exempt? Most churches , certainly here in the UK , do strive to help people who are not congregation members in all sorts of ways"
The idea here is that churches who offer services to the community, such as congregate dining, help for persons in need, counselling services, tag sales for clothing, etc. would not be affected, as they are providing tangible benefits to the community.
When I recently looked at the JW-related charitable organizations, their objective(s) were all
"TO ASSIST THE LOCAL UNINCORPORATED ASSOCIATION OF JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES IN CARRYING OUT THEIR RELIGIOUS OBJECTIVE OF PREACHING THE GOOD NEWS OF GOD'S KINGDOM AND PROMOTING PUBLIC RELIGIOUS WORSHIP DESIGNED TO UPLIFT JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES AND ANY WHO ATTEND THEIR PUBLIC MEETINGS BY MEANS OF MORAL AND SPIRITUAL INSTRUCTION BASED ON GOD'S WORD THE BIBLE." (upper case in situ)
That text is word-for-word (with some exceptions for re-rendering in normal type rather than ALL CAPS) in all of the registered JW charitable organizations in Canada.
When I did a search using "Episcopal" this was the wording in the results:
"WEEKLY SERVICES PROVIDING PASTORAL CARE TO PARISHONERS. ALSO PROVIDES FOOD ON AN ONGOING BASIS TO POOR AND NEEDY."
another example:
"WE DO SUNDAY CHURCH SERVICES ALL YEAR. WE DO AN EXTRA SERVICE FOR CHRISTMAS, THANKSGIVING AND EASTER. WE PROVIDE LUNCHES AFTER SERVICES IN OUR PARISH HALL. WE HAVE MID-WEEK BIBLE STUDY GROUPS. EACH MONTH THERE IS A VESTRY MEETING HELD AT THE CHURCH TO DISCUSS ALL CHURCH ACTIVITIES AND FINANCIAL REPORTS. WE HAVE CHRISTMAS DINNER FOR THE CONGREGATION AND THEIR FAMILIES. WE DO FOOD DRIVES ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS AND DISTRIBUTE DONATIONS TO OTHER LOCAL CHARITIES IN NEED. WE DO MEMORIAL SERVICE ON NOV 11 OUTSIDE BY THE CENOTAPH. MONDAY MORNINGS THERE IS A BOOK CLUB MEETING AND LUNCH IS PROVIDED. THE CRAFT CIRCLE MEETS ONCE A WEEK TO MAKE SCARVES, TOQUES AND MITTENS WHICH WE DONATE TO GROUPS LIKE THE SALVATION ARMY."
(IDK what the all caps is about, but it's making me woozy )
At any rate, other charitable organizations can list what programs they offer, what their goals and scope are, and have actual beneficial programs for people in the community.
Here is an example of The Boys' and Girls' Club:
"The Boys & Girls Clubs of [removed by Scully] provides a safe, supportive place where children and youth can experience new opportunities, overcome barriers, and build positive relationships. The club provides recreational, educational, cultural and social programs to children and youth between 5 - 21 years old. Programs offered: Breakfast program, Afterschool program, In-service day camps, March break camp, summer day camp, youth outreach program, sexual violence prevention youth outreach, Raise the Grade tutoring program, physical activities (running club, basketball, etc.), cooking programs, food security programs."
Those are the kinds of activities that would merit tax exempt status, not just promoting a religious ideology.