Anonymous
Message to American Taxpayers: Scientology - IRS
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to re-upload.
You may
be surprised to learn that in America, one group enjoys a tax-exemption
and special privileges from the IRS, privileges that go beyond
those afforded to any other taxpayer.
Also surprising
is the fact that for over 25 years, the IRS fought against this
group in the courts, arguing that it did not qualify for any
tax-exemption due to "the commercial character" of
much of the groups operations, and its "virtually incomprehensible
financial procedures".
In 1991,
an unusual meeting was held between the leader of the group
(David Miscavige) and the IRS Commissioner (Fred T. Goldberg
Jr.).
A complete
reversal of the IRS' position came into effect in October 1993.
A secret
deal now provides this group with rights that exceed those of
the average citizen.
This group
and its associated corporations are known by various names,
including:
- Church
of Scientology International
- Church
of Spiritual Technology
- Religious
Technology Center
Front
Groups include:
Criminon
Citizen's
Commission on Human Rights
A New
York Times investigation revealed that Scientology's tax exemption
"followed a series of unusual internal IRS actions that
came after an extraordinary campaign orchestrated by Scientology
against the agency and people who work there."
Scientologists
are able to claim tax-deductions
Scientologists
are able to claim tax-deductions of a nature that is prohibited
for members of any other group...
The U.S.
Constitution upholds the principle of the separation of Church
and State. The Establishment Clause of the First Amendment ensures
Government policy remains neutral towards religious groups.
According to the Constitution, one religious group should not
receive special treatment by the U.S. Government.
On February
4, 2008, Judge Kim Wardlaw summarized the situation:
"The
view of the IRS is that it can unconstitutionally violate the
Constitution by establishing religion, by treating one religion
more favorably than other religions in terms of what it allows
as deductions, and there can never be any judicial review of
that?"
"This
does intrude into the Establishment Clause. The whole point
is Government neutrality towards religion, and that's exactly
what the IRS is not doing here"
The affidavit
of Lawrence H. Brennan, filed on May 6, 2008 reveals that Scientology
corporations deliberately worked to create the appearance of
a religious group in order to gain a tax-exemption and hide
its assets from outsiders.
If you
feel that Scientology's secret deal with the IRS is an injustice
to American taxpayers, please write to your Congressman, and
inform others about this unacceptable situation.
