Church and State - Should Churches pay taxes?

[Johnfromokc]

It is past time to remove the tax exemption from all religious groups and churches. What say you Otz?

 

[porterjack]

i say yes

 

[hart]

I second that motion!

 

[HK]

Yeah, I can agree with that.


Never really considered it before but it makes sense. There's no real reason any religious organisation should be exempt from tax, and as the quote says, it just puts the burden onto the community instead.

 

[CityGirl]

Bill introduced by Rep Walter B. Jones (R-NC)H.R. 3600: To restore the Free Speech and First Amendment rights of churches and exempt organizations by repealing the 1954 Johnson Amendment which "made it illegal for organizations that accept tax-exempt donations from acting as campaign organizations on behalf of candidates for public office. Under the Johnson Amendment, it remains legal for churches and charitable organizations to campaign for political candidates. They simply cannot claim tax-exempt status and do so at the same time."

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h112-3600

http://thatsmycongress.com/index.ph...leaver-convert-churches-into-political-tools/

http://politics.nytimes.com/congress/bills/112/hr3600

Several years ago, the pastor of the church I attended was very politically active and he almost lost the church's tax exemption because of it. What irritates me is the wording "restore Free Speech and First Amendment rights of churches and exempt organizations" But I guess if Corporations are "people", church's and exempt organizations are "people", too.

 

[JuggsBunny]

I think ANY church who wants to play in the political arena SHOULD have to pay taxes. If a church wants to keep out politics entirely, let them have a LOWER tax burden. Do I think they should be tax-exempt??? No. There are a lot of religious organisations that basically give the IRS a big ol' "fuck you" when it comes to taxes - and many of these organisations are of the mega-church variety.

 

[porterjack]

i wouild like to see the wealth that lies in the vaults of the vaitican used to eradicate poverty

 

[redliner]

How about not tax them and change how YOU pay taxes ? Isn't this the reason your all it the swirl of the toilet ? Over taxed.

 

[Johnfromokc]

How about not tax them and change how YOU pay taxes ? Isn't this the reason your all it the swirl of the toilet ? Over taxed.

Could you possibly force your head any farther up your own ass?

Go start another panty color thread. These type threads are beyond your ability to participate in.

 

[All Else Failed]

One point of view is:

Walz vs. Tax Commission of the City of New York, the high court stated that a tax exemption for churches "creates only a minimal and remote involvement between church and state and far less than taxation of churches. [An exemption] restricts the fiscal relationship between church and state, and tends to complement and reinforce the desired separation insulating each from the other." The Supreme Court also said that "the power to tax involves the power to destroy." Taxing churches breaks down the healthy separation of church and state and leads to the destruction of the free exercise of religion.

http://www.latimes.com/features/religion/la-oew-lynn-stanley23-2008sep23,0,2226105.story

 

[alice in chains]

if they didnt interact with society i would say no, but they do, so yes.

 

[Zorak]

No, since it would impact upon their contributiion within the community, and the tax revenue it would raise would be mimimal.

 

[Kyle B]

No, since it would impact upon their contributiion within the community, and the tax revenue it would raise would be mimimal.

That's how I would handle it. As long as they operate on a non-profit basis.

 

[Johnfromokc]

No, since it would impact upon their contributiion within the community, and the tax revenue it would raise would be mimimal.

You guys must not have the Protestant mega churches in England that we have here in the U.S.

http://hirr.hartsem.edu/megachurch/megastoday2008_summaryreport.html

They occupy prime real estate and pay no taxes. Our public school funding mainly comes from property tax revenue. They don't contribute to the community nearly as much as people might think.

Nearly half their income goes to salaries and benefits and only 13% to benevolence.

I say tax them as a business and allow them to deduct the actual 13% they actually contribute.

 

[Alien Allen]

tax em

and give credits for what benevolence they provide

Not sure if it is or was accurate but I recall years ago hearing the comment that the Catholic Church was in effect the biggest corporation in the world.

 

[JuggsBunny]

The Mormons are making money hand over fist - a 4 BILLION dollar mall/restaurant/condo complex is going up in Salt Lake City...

 

[Panacea]

Though AEF's blurb presents and interesting point, I still vote yes. Like others have said, deducting their donations could be of benefit. It's not a punishment; they should not be tax-exempt.

 

[teh_fuzz]

Churches are no different than any other organization... fk'em...i mean tax them!

 

[Zorak]

You guys must not have the Protestant mega churches in England that we have here in the U.S.

http://hirr.hartsem.edu/megachurch/megastoday2008_summaryreport.html

They occupy prime real estate and pay no taxes. Our public school funding mainly comes from property tax revenue. They don't contribute to the community nearly as much as people might think.

Nearly half their income goes to salaries and benefits and only 13% to benevolence.

I say tax them as a business and allow them to deduct the actual 13% they actually contribute.

I can't speak for every Church, I can barely speak for any, since I don't and have never attended any Church or religious organisation. Nor have I ever seen the books for any religious organisation. But I know a few in my area that provide a lot of activities and help for kids, old people & people on low incomes.

If some make excessive amounts of money without providing such services and exploiting their tax free status, then I agree it's a shame, but I wouldn't dare want to lose the fantastic work that some religous centres and organisations do.