ADD Represents D.C. Church… Atheists’ Lawsuit Would Force Churches To File Tax Returns

• 5 years ago

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys representing a church in Washington, D.C. — The New Macedonia Baptist Church — have filed a motion in federal court to intervene in an atheist group’s lawsuit. The lawsuit, filed by Freedom From Religion Foundation attorneys on behalf of Nonbelief Relief, Inc., seeks to more greatly entangle the government with religion by unconstitutionally forcing churches to file annual tax returns that contain sensitive financial disclosures with the Internal Revenue Service.

As ADF attorneys explain, because of the First Amendment, the government would be overstepping its constitutional bounds to require churches to file such forms.

“Activist groups with an axe to grind against religion shouldn’t be allowed to entangle the government with religion in ways the First Amendment prohibits,” said ADF Senior Counsel Erik Stanley on November 26.

“Requiring churches to file tax returns with the IRS places too much power — and too much sensitive information about church operations and finances — in the hands of the government.”