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If they stay out of politics and leave me the hell alone, then i'm willing to cut them some slack on the tax thing. But if they start endorsing candidates and getting themselves involved....ala Rick Warren, ya gotta pay the piper.
Yeah but you said it, it seems some Churches cannot keep thier noses out of politics. I believe they should pay.
Mega Churches, especially the one's on TV and the Catholic church should absolutely have to pay taxes and not just from selling their books/videos or classes they have as well as other services. They should have to pay for all donations. Truthfully I don't think cash should be permitted to donate either they should have to only accept checks or automated bank donations. Since many do accept cash donations then I say tax them a standard amount way above any other tax just to make sure they pay up.
The little corner church should not have to pay any taxes because they don't get enough donations to even consider for taxes. Most if not all goes right back to the congregation within the church and many of them use the money for food and to help those in need in the community.
I think churches that are nonprofit should be tax-free. But why can't they speak on politics? Pastors don't have free speech?
Pastors have free speech as individuals to give their political opinions. They do not have, per their tax exempt status, the "right" to tell their parishoners how to vote. I'm not an attorney, I know it's not quite that black and white, but that's the essence.
I can see exempting the church building, but not the businesses the church may own, etc. Of course the employees should pay income tax, including the pastor.
If they stay out of politics and leave me the hell alone, then i'm willing to cut them some slack on the tax thing. But if they start endorsing candidates and getting themselves involved....ala Rick Warren, ya gotta pay the piper.
I think churches that are nonprofit should be tax-free. But why can't they speak on politics? Pastors don't have free speech?
Not if you are tax free. That would be the govt. endorsement of religion...i.e. they are paying for that speech.
I say no anyway. ANy one who thinks Church is not a business is naive.
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