Theos-Talk Archives (September 2004 Message tt00291)

stevestubbs wrote:
> > The Theosophical Society should not get active in politics
> Great idea, Bart, but if it is registered as a nonprofit organization 
> it is prohibited by law from getting into politics, Bart.
Only partially true. In the United States political organizations are 
generally nonprofit, but donations to these organizations are NOT tax 
deductible. In addition, according to the IRS, "Section 501(c)(3) 
organizations are prohibited from participating or intervening in any 
political campaign on behalf of, or in opposition to, any candidate for 
public office." This does not mean that they can't support CAUSES, 
provided that it is clearly not in support or against any given 
candidate in any given election. For example, if, say, a minister for a 
church supports the right to arm bears, she cannot say, "Vote for 
Senator Flapdoodle, who is a strong proponent of bear rights", but she 
CAN say something like, "Please encourage whomever you're voting for to 
let the poor bears protect themselves."

Bart