Religious leaders sharply rejected any federal efforts to impose new laws or regulations on them, saying in a formal report to Sen. Charles Grassley that more effective administration of today’s rules and donor education would be the best way to curb any possible wrongdoing.

The report came after Sen. Charles Grassley asked a panel of religious leaders to examine concerns he had about possible tax abuses by television evangelists.

“We cannot allow the behavior of a few outliers in the religious and nonprofit sector to threaten the freedoms of those who are not the problem – those who are doing the good work,” Michael Batts, an accounting expert who headed the commission that prepared the recommendations, said in a statement.  “Federal policy should continue to encourage the public to financially support such organizations and it should not burden them with harsh or excessive legislation or regulation.”

http://philanthropy.com/article/Religious-Leaders-Tell/136123/

For a copy of the report: http://religiouspolicycommission.org/CommissionReport.aspx

Tags: nonprofit, rules, Sen. Charles Grassley, tax abuse, television evangelists