On Bachmann and Living Word: Churches, Taxes, and Politics

Churches have a special place in tax law: they are exempt from income taxes by default, contributions from individuals can be deducted from their income taxes, churches don’t have to file paperwork for their exempt status, they don’t have to report contributions or expenditures, and they are shielded from audits except in extreme cases. But with these special rights comes a certain degree of responsibility: they cannot attempt to influence elections by supporting or opposing candidates for office. The event at Living Word Christian Church with Congressional candidate and tax lawyer Michele Bachmann took advantage of those special rights, especially Pastor Mac Hammonds’ endorsement.

As Hamline University political science professor, David Schultz, put it in an interview with FOX 9 News last night: “He violated federal law.