Free churches: Difference between revisions

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==By country==

=== United States ===

In the [[wikipedia:United States|United States]], because of the [[wikipedia:First Amendment|First Amendment]] forbidding the government establishment of religion, all churches are by definition free churches. However, many churches in the [[wikipedia:United States|United States]] have requested tax-exempt status under section [[wikipedia:501c3|501(c)(3)]] of the [[wikipedia:Internal Revenue Code|Internal Revenue Code]]. This subjects the churches to certain additional regulations to maintain the tax exemption. Churches that are structured under [[wikipedia:501c3|501(c)(3)]] face restrictions in the area of political speech: no substantial part of the church's activities may consist of carrying on propaganda or otherwise attempting to influence legislation. A [[wikipedia:~~501c3~~|~~501(c)(3)~~]] ~~organization is also restricted from participating or intervening in any~~ political ~~campaign for or against any political candidate~~.

In the [[wikipedia:United States|United States]], because of the [[wikipedia:First Amendment|First Amendment]] forbidding the government establishment of religion, all churches are by definition free churches. However, many churches in the [[wikipedia:United States|United States]] have requested tax-exempt status under section [[wikipedia:501c3|501(c)(3)]] of the [[wikipedia:Internal Revenue Code|Internal Revenue Code]]. This subjects the churches to certain additional regulations to maintain the tax exemption. Churches that are structured under [[wikipedia:501c3|501(c)(3)]] face restrictions in the area of political speech: no substantial part of the church's activities may consist of carrying on propaganda or otherwise attempting to influence legislation.<ref>https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/charities-churches-and-politics</ref> In a recent federal court filing, the [[wikipedia:Internal Revenue Service|Internal Revenue Service]] stated that churches can endorse political candidates to their congregations without risking the loss of their tax-exempt status.<ref>https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.txed.232590/gov.uscourts.txed.232590.35.1.pdf</ref>

=== Germany ===

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 ==By country==
 === United States ===
-In the [[wikipedia:United States|United States]], because of the [[wikipedia:First Amendment|First Amendment]] forbidding the government establishment of religion, all churches are by definition free churches. However, many churches in the [[wikipedia:United States|United States]] have requested tax-exempt status under section [[wikipedia:501c3|501(c)(3)]] of the [[wikipedia:Internal Revenue Code|Internal Revenue Code]]. This subjects the churches to certain additional regulations to maintain the tax exemption. Churches that are structured under [[wikipedia:501c3|501(c)(3)]] face restrictions in the area of political speech: no substantial part of the church's activities may consist of carrying on propaganda or otherwise attempting to influence legislation. A [[wikipedia:501c3|501(c)(3)]] organization is also restricted from participating or intervening in any political campaign for or against any political candidate.
+In the [[wikipedia:United States|United States]], because of the [[wikipedia:First Amendment|First Amendment]] forbidding the government establishment of religion, all churches are by definition free churches. However, many churches in the [[wikipedia:United States|United States]] have requested tax-exempt status under section [[wikipedia:501c3|501(c)(3)]] of the [[wikipedia:Internal Revenue Code|Internal Revenue Code]]. This subjects the churches to certain additional regulations to maintain the tax exemption. Churches that are structured under [[wikipedia:501c3|501(c)(3)]] face restrictions in the area of political speech: no substantial part of the church's activities may consist of carrying on propaganda or otherwise attempting to influence legislation.<ref>https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/charities-churches-and-politics</ref> In a recent federal court filing, the [[wikipedia:Internal Revenue Service|Internal Revenue Service]] stated that churches can endorse political candidates to their congregations without risking the loss of their tax-exempt status.<ref>https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.txed.232590/gov.uscourts.txed.232590.35.1.pdf</ref>
 === Germany ===