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I'd like to see the tax free status of schools, churches, AND hospitals yanked.
The college eats up my local property taxes, but they don't give me a local discount on tuition. They keep raising rates to build new sports stadiums and fund pet projects. How does that help to educate our children?
The hospital doesn't give me a local discount either. Although they're non-profit, they've raised rates to the point where the community can't afford to go to the doctor. I don't need a hospital with mahogany trim. I need medical care I can afford.
Why should a Christian have to subsidize a mosque that advocates the killing of Christians? What do Mormon temples do for a community, and why should I be forced to subsidize them?
If the purpose of a non-profit corporation such as a church or hospital is to provide services to the community, a property tax would discourage them from spending money on marble floors instead of following their charter.
You make a very interesting point, especially about colleges and universities.
People who think churches are too involved in politics ought to check out what's happening at colleges. And nobody seems to complain that THEY are tax exempt.
You make a very interesting point, especially about colleges and universities.
People who think churches are too involved in politics ought to check out what's happening at colleges. And nobody seems to complain that THEY are tax exempt.
Universities are not churches. They are primarily institutions of higher learning.
I just received another email ranting about having prayer in school and I wondered why do Churches get a free ride - meaning those who don't believe have to pay for the believers.
Didn't Ronald Reagan espouse the philosophy of pay for what you use?
This goes for all religious real estate -not just churches.
Those who either don't attend church or have their own private beliefs, are forced to subsidize these buildings. The churches receive all the city services .. and pay for none of them.
I dont think it is fair that anyone has to pay taxes at all. after all our founding fathers intent was for small goverement and limited goverment. all that can be paid for with tariffs, bonds and duties.
I dont think it is fair that anyone has to pay taxes at all. after all our founding fathers intent was for small goverement and limited goverment. all that can be paid for with tariffs, bonds and duties.
WWL-TV, the CBS affiliate in New Orleans, is (or was) wholly owned by Loyola University of the South, a Roman Catholic institution that pays no taxes. Accordingly, Channel 4 can sell advertising on its TV shows, and pay no taxes on the gains. In fact, when I worked there, and later applied for unemployment benefits, I was told that my earnings at WWL-TV were not eligible for unemployment benefit consideration, because WWL-TV was not required to contribute to the state unemployment compensation fund on behalf of its employees.---they are a church, and I worked for a church. Of course, I paid income tax on money I received while working for the church.
It is difficult to draw the line, but this seems to be across the line.
WWL-TV, the CBS affiliate in New Orleans, is (or was) wholly owned by Loyola University of the South, a Roman Catholic institution that pays no taxes. Accordingly, Channel 4 can sell advertising on its TV shows, and pay no taxes on the gains. In fact, when I worked there, and later applied for unemployment benefits, I was told that my earnings at WWL-TV were not eligible for unemployment benefit consideration, because WWL-TV was not required to contribute to the state unemployment compensation fund on behalf of its employees.---they are a church, and I worked for a church. Of course, I paid income tax on money I received while working for the church.
It is difficult to draw the line, but this seems to be across the line.
You're right.
The deal is, though, when courts start fighting it out over non-profits starting to pay taxes, churches are NOT the ones who are going to take the hit.
Church owned businesses should, of course, pay taxes. And something tells me that they do. But I won't make any argument one way or the other, because I don't know for sure.
We also have to remember that there are a LOT of different kinds of taxes. Income tax, Property tax, etc.
WWL-TV, the CBS affiliate in New Orleans, is (or was) wholly owned by Loyola University of the South, a Roman Catholic institution that pays no taxes. Accordingly, Channel 4 can sell advertising on its TV shows, and pay no taxes on the gains. In fact, when I worked there, and later applied for unemployment benefits, I was told that my earnings at WWL-TV were not eligible for unemployment benefit consideration, because WWL-TV was not required to contribute to the state unemployment compensation fund on behalf of its employees.---they are a church, and I worked for a church. Of course, I paid income tax on money I received while working for the church.
It is difficult to draw the line, but this seems to be across the line.
Methinks you are making a sweeping generalization about tax liability. Non-profit organizations pay no "income tax" since they have no revenue taxable income nor pay dividends (usury). However, all employees remuneration is subject to the personal income tax and FICA withholding.
So any gain from a non-profit activity either must be used as salary (subject to taxation) or re-invested in the non-profit activity itself. Remember, government has no blanket delegation to tax "everything".
In fact, government cannot tax anything that is a right protected by constitution.
However, once you enroll into "voluntary" socialism, you've waived most of the rights you were endowed with by your Creator.
(D'Oh!)
You obviously know nothing about how churches actually work, what they do and don't do politically, and what they do actually pay for.
of course i know nothing. i just attended church for some 18 years with no insight whatsoever.
and of course, those who oppose separation of church and state(their religion/god), oppose abortion, advocate prayer in school(thier god/religion), against same-sex marriage, against gays, against other religions, are pro-war ad nauseum have no political leanings and are never religiously affiliated or obtain any of their beliefs or views from their religion.
yes, i'm the one that's naive because it's a "church" after all and they are just "religious" people.
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