Is Westboro Baptist Church a hate group?

[Takeda Shingen]

Originally Posted by razark

Without a doubt, they are a vile scum sucking hate group.

And as long as they don't break any laws, they have the First Amendment right to say what they want.

Oh, they absolutely have the right to do what they are doing. But as a hate group they would no longer be considered a church and would lose their tax-exempt status.

[razark]

Originally Posted by Takeda Shingen

But as a hate group they would no longer be considered a church and would lose their tax-exempt status.

Who exactly decides on hate group status for tax purposes? I'm not aware of any government list of hate groups. And how does the government decide exactly what is or isn't a valid church for tax exemption? As far as I have seen, the WBC doesn't push a "political" agenda of the type that would get them in trouble.