It will be interesting to see what will happen with the "beloved" 501c3 tax exempt status which the churches hold so dearly onto. The first-century Christians met in homes. They did not have exemption from taxes to the governments. They had no restrictions placed upon them by the government, since they gave up no power to the government (e.g. by registering as 501c3 corporations. With the recent decision legalizing gay marriage, things could get ugly really quick for churches that care more for their tax-exempt status than what the Bible says. No matter! This will likely be another age-long test of who are the weeds, and who are the wheat. More interesting will be what the WT does when the government threatens them with tax-exempt revocation. Perhaps they will claim it is the great tribulation, tell all their followers to give them EVERYTHING materially wise, and finally pull out the kool-aid! I hope not!
Last week, House and Senate Republicans introduced a bill that would prevent the federal government from penalizing federal employees, contractors or religiously affiliated organizations that oppose gay marriage.
The measure, introduced by Idaho Republican Rep. Raul Labrador and Utah Sen. Mike Lee—both members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, known as the Mormon Church—would prohibit the federal government from withholding tax-exempt status, contracts or accreditation from schools or other religious organizations opposing same-sex marriage.
The legislation would be most relevant to religious schools and universities, its backers say, which are concerned about losing their tax-exempt status.
For example, under the bill, a religiously affiliated university wouldn’t lose federal grants, tax-exempt status or accreditation for refusing to accommodate a same-sex couple in student housing for married people.
Supporters of the measure, called the First Amendment Defense Act, was partly prompted by an exchange during oral arguments in the Supreme Court when Justice Samuel Alito asked U.S. Solicitor General Donald Verrilli if such a university or college might not be entitled to tax-exempt status. “It is going to be an issue,” Mr. Verrilli responded.