Should Churches pay Taxes?

not4u

nope, keep them out of politics to block off the crazies wanting to be involved with politics.

hippiemom

surferdude wrote:

Most domestic abuse shelters will turn away men. Rape relief centres will turn away men and most won't let men volunteer. The food shelter won't give me filet mignon and have a hard time meeting a vegan's needs.

I'm sorry you live on the outskirts of society. The Cleveland Rape Crisis Center does NOT turn away men as clients or employees. When I volunteered there, I talked to many men on our hotline. The volunteer coordinator at the time (a paid position) was a man, as were several volunteers.

I never worked at a domestic abuse shelter, so I can't speak to that.

I have to say that I sympathize with the food bank regarding your demands for filet mignon , but I do agree that they should do a better job accomodating their increasing number of vegan/vegetarian clients. In fact, they should be encouraging more people to adopt that lifestyle, as it is cheaper.

FinsburyParkCarrots

Yes. Instead of us.

Er, no. Let's pay taxes to keep them out of politics.

Wait, I dunno.


Oh, fuck it.

Jeanie

deadnothingbetter wrote:

ok, i see. i agree, if churches are just slacking and up to know good getting involved in politics and influencing society in that way i'll bid for taxes to be enforced on churches.... particularly mega churches. i agree completey.

I don't have a problem with them influencing society or getting involved in politics, I just think that if they're planning on participating in the society then they should have to pay to be here like the rest of us do, UNLESS their "volunteering" is of equivalent value.

I don't even take issue with mega churches. But when they are able to use their tax exempt status to become so rich that they are able to expand their parish and their influence then I really don't see why they even qualify for tax exemptions. There are a lot of good things done by churches and church groups to benefit the community and not just for their own worshippers either. But I'm tired of watching some of the crap that's gone on here. Some of the churches here seem to be run almost like a corporation and I'm really not seeing any benefit to society from them, so if someone is getting rich from church, then they should be paying tax. Just like everybody else has to.

somebodythepsychic

It's not about political activism but money. If they were taxed they'd have a harder time skimming off the top (cash) because of the IRS. We need the money for health care and education. Are they paying for that?

By the way we're funding anti abortion protests which Eddie is opposed to.

Strangest Tribe

In God We Trust Inc.

NMyTree

bootlegger10 wrote:

Churches would lose their tax-exempt status for their political contributions.

http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a391d19af0f3b.htm

But they certainly work hard to influence the political wheel. They inject themselves into political circles, political entities and into politician's lives, in general. And some do make contributions .......through less direct venues.

They can't do it directly, so they find roundabout ways to do it.

darthvedder81

Yes let's tax churches. Because we all know the government needs more money to piss away!

PaperPlates

darthvedder81 wrote:

Yes let's tax churches. Because we all know the government needs more money to piss away!

What he said.

soulsinging

PaperPlates wrote:

What he said.

what if it's accompanied by a cut in personal income tax?

PaperPlates

soulsinging wrote:

what if it's accompanied by a cut in personal income tax?

Thats one crazy if. But I don't want the churches funding my nations tax system. Then I'd owe them something. And if you think that churches are religious now.....................

soulsinging

PaperPlates wrote:

Thats one crazy if. But I don't want the churches funding my nations tax system. Then I'd owe them something. And if you think that churches are religious now.....................

if i think that churches are religious now.... what? they'll be more religious? they'll add more jesus to the curriculum?

i say we let profitable institutions fund the tax system, rather than individual citizens from their income.

Anon

some of the dioceses themselves are wealthy. wealthy enough to pay $600 million settlements. I'm also sure there are poor, small congregations, that would be unable to afford to pay taxes.

the fair way would perhaps be to have a minimum income level where no taxes are paid, and then step up the level of tax to be paid in conjunction with how wealthy the curch is.

i also think that any business that earns enough money to pay employees should have to pay taxes.

darthvedder81

soulsinging wrote:

what if it's accompanied by a cut in personal income tax?

I'll go one better:

Eliminate the unconstitutional and borderline evil income tax and then we can talk.

soulsinging

darthvedder81 wrote:

I'll go one better:

Eliminate the unconstitutional and borderline evil income tax and then we can talk.

i don't think it's unconstitutional, but if you come up with a good alternative to finance the government, i'm open.

farfromglorified

soulsinging wrote:

but if you come up with a good alternative to finance the government, i'm open.

Ummm...how about charging for services? A little bird told me that some organizations offer services that people pay for, and they even do that willingly! I know, it sounds crazy.

soulsinging

farfromglorified wrote:

Ummm...how about charging for services? A little bird told me that some organizations offer services that people pay for, and they even do that willingly! I know, it sounds crazy.

what's the point of a government at all then? you can just have private businesses do everything and charge for the services. instead of police, we'll just have rent-a-cops patrolling cities and protecting only those who can afford to pay their salary.

farfromglorified

soulsinging wrote:

what's the point of a government at all then? you can just have private businesses do everything and charge for the services. instead of police, we'll just have rent-a-cops patrolling cities and protecting only those who can afford to pay their salary.

Ok. And "those who can afford to pay their salary" would be 99% of the population. The per-person annual cost of police services is beween $100-$500, depending on where you live.

soulsinging

farfromglorified wrote:

Ok. And "those who can afford to pay their salary" would be 99% of the population. The per-person annual cost of police services is beween $100-$500, depending on where you live.

and i guarantee you that 94% of the population won't pay by betting on the assumption that others will. i know i won't cos i don't like cops. i'll just buy a gun and shoot anyone coming into my house. my own personal police force for a one time fee of $500. and i won't pay for courts either so that there is no one to try me. i'll use the money i save for a big bribe if i ever get dragged to court for it.

boxwine_in_hell

Yes.