Did Planned Parenthood Break the Law Doing Free Abortions?

40 Days for Life has called on the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to evaluate whether Planned Parenthood violated rules for nonprofits after the organization offered free abortions to attendees of the Democratic National Convention (DNC).

In an Aug. 20 electronically filed complaint to the IRS, 40 Days for Life brought attention to “potentially prohibited political activities” that Planned Parenthood participated in by offering a mobile “health” clinic for the sake of providing free abortions at the DNC.

The report, signed by President and CEO of 40 Days for Life Shawn Carney, called on the IRS to determine if Planned Parenthood’s activities violate tax-exempt rules against political involvement.

“Political campaigning substantially diverges from the permissible activities and could result in revocation of tax-exempt status and possible imposition of related excise taxes,” the report stated.

“This deployment by federally tax exempt organizations organized under I.R.C. Section 501(c)(3) in relation to a massive, nationwide political event gives rise to serious concerns about the potential infringement of the tax-exempt requirements,” it continued.

40 Days for Life highlighted that as a tax-exempt organization, Planned Parenthood must avoid any direct or indirect involvement in political campaigns that endorse or oppose candidates or platforms, particularly those for the President and Vice President of the United States.

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According to the pro-life organization, Planned Parenthood’s actions, including advertising and providing free services at a political rally for one party and its candidates, suggest an endorsement of that party and its platform, which is a violation of restrictions on political activities for nonprofit organizations under I.R.C. Section 501(c)(3).

“Planned Parenthood’s stated activities …. fall squarely outside acceptable operations of a 501(c)(3) organization,” the report stated.

40 Days for Life argued that while the Hatch Act Advisory Opinion dated July 14, 2020, suggests that using terms like “Black Lives Matter” by federal employees does not necessarily count as political activity, Planned Parenthood’s actions this August, which involve providing services at a political event, “are starkly different from permissible lobbying.”

“In conclusion, the IRS should assess whether Planned Parenthood’s activities violate the prohibitions against political activities and otherwise under Law and Rule,” 40 Days for Life’s report reads. “Political campaigning substantially diverges from the permissible activities and could result in revocation of tax-exempt status and possible imposition of related excise taxes.”

LifeNews Note: Rachel Quackenbush writes for CatholicVote, where this column originally appeared.

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