he U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday that the Westboro Baptist Church's protests of military funerals are protected under the First Amendment. In addition to funeral protests, members of the church—known for signs reading "God Hates Fags"—maintain a busy schedule of demonstrations at colleges and political conventions. Like all incorporated churches in the United States, the WBC conducts the majority of its activities tax-free under the 501(c)(3) provision—which is rather odd, when you think about it, since part of the 501(c)(3)/nonprofit deal is that churches must accept restrictions on political engagement. This raises the question: Why is the Church tax-exempt?
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