Challenge the Church of Scientology's IRS tax break

Humanist, May-June, 2004 by Karen Ann Gajewski

* A trial in Los Angeles, California, could ultimately challenge the Church of Scientology's IRS tax break. Having lost their 1993 lawsuit against the IRS, Michael and Maria Sklar are again suing the IRS for denying them deductions for the religious education of their children. The Jewish couple based its case on the tax benefit the federal government granted the Church of Scientology in a secret agreement in 1993, arguing the only proper course is to grant the tax benefit to all religions.

One appeals court judge--Barry D. Silverman--agreed that the IRS was in fact giving preferential treatment to one religion over another but urged further litigation to "put a stop to that policy," saying the remedy is not to require the IRS to let others claim the improper deduction." Heeding Silverman's advice, the Sklars sued the IRS again.