The Law of Tax-Exempt Organizations, 2021 Cumulative Supplement. Bruce R. Hopkins

CHAPTER TEN Religious Organizations

§ 10.1 CONSTITUTIONAL LAW FRAMEWORK

      (a) General Constitutional Law Principles

       p. 239, last paragraph. Insert as last sentence:

In a similar holding, the Court held that states, once having implemented a program providing financial assistance (such as scholarships) for access to private schools, cannot exclude religious schools from participation in the program; a state supreme court's striking down such a program, on the ground it violates the state's constitution, was held to transgress the free exercise clause.^27.1

       p. 239, note 20. Insert following existing text:

      The Supreme Court struck down a state executive order imposing restrictions on the size of gatherings in houses of worship, in an effort to control the spread of the coronavirus, because the limits were found excessively strict (Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn v. Cuomo, 141 S. Ct. 63 (2020)). A similar case is under reconsideration, following remand by the Court (Harvest Rock Church v. Newsom (C.D. Cal.)).

       p. 242, note 61. Delete 134 S. Ct. 1811 and insert 572 U.S. 565.

       p. 242, note 61. Insert following existing text:

      This decision has given rise to a historical significance test, where courts ascertain whether a statute is a continuation of a “historical practice” of Congress (id. at 576).

(c) Internal Revenue Code Provisions

p. 247, note 102. Insert following existing text:

      On appeal, this decision was reversed, with the appellate court ruling that this rental allowance is not unconstitutional as a violation of the establishment clause because the provision has secular purposes and it passed a historical significance test (Gaylor v. Mnuchin, 919 F.3d 420 (7th Cir. 2019)). The secular purposes were said to be elimination of discrimination against ministers, elimination of discrimination between ministers, and avoidance of excessive government entanglement with religion. As to the historical significance test, see supra note 61 and text accompanying it.

§ 10.2 FEDERAL TAX LAW DEFINITION OF RELIGION

      (c) Abuse of Tax Exemption

       p. 254, note 165. Insert following existing text:

      An individual selling religious merchandise by means of the internet was found liable for federal income tax on the net proceeds, with a court rejecting his argument that he was functioning as a church (Lloyd v. Comm'r, T.C. Memo. 2020‐92 (2020).

§ 10.3 CHURCHES AND SIMILAR INSTITUTIONS

      (c) Principle of Respect for Autonomy

       p. 262, note 219, second line. Insert following third period:

      The Court expanded the ministerial exception to encompass teachers employed by religious schools (Our Lady of Guadalupe School v. Morrissey‐Berru; St. James School v. Darryl Biel, 140 S. Ct. 2049).

§ 10.5 INTEGRATED AUXILIARIES OF CHURCHES

       p. 263, note 233. Delete 26.9 and insert 26.11.

§ 10.7 RELIGIOUS ORDERS

       p. 266. Insert as second complete paragraph, before heading:

A tax‐exempt religious organization is inspired by Christian ideals and structured around daily religious observations and celebrations of festivals of the Christian year. This entity is dedicated to the care and well‐being of adults with developmental disabilities—its residents. The community also includes members who care for the residents and the members' children. These three categories of individuals live together on a full‐time basis in extended family households and work together maintaining the community. Members are individuals who have been in continuous residence at the organization's facility for at least three years, completed a course of studies, completed a discernment process regarding the suitability of their intended permanent commitment to the community, and been accepted into permanent residence at the community. Members agree to strive to live in accordance with ideals requiring moral and spiritual self‐sacrifice and dedication to the organization's goals, at the expense of their material well‐being. The IRS ruled that this organization is a religious order, even though it is not under the control and supervision of a church or convention or association of churches.^252.1

Notes