Should Religion be Tax-Exempt? (Congress, salary, legal, fence)
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Your question is a two-edge sword, and the answer is YES? See...if ACORN, Planned Perenthood, and a whole bunch of political organizations are "tax-exempt," why not religious organizations?
Tax-exempt political organizations are not allowed to make endorsements in elections - this is why the ACLU renounced tax-exempt status.
The same should be enforced with regard to tax-exempt religious organizations. For example the Church of Latter Day Saints making endorsements on ballot measures in California should result in their tax exemption revoked and be reclassified as a business. That would do a great deal towards easing California's fiscal crisis. If the Mormon Church is going to act like a business they should be treated as one. (Although knowing the LDS hierarchy, if this were to happen they'd recharter the Church as a bank in order to get TARP funds....)
And yes, take away Scientology's tax exempt status because it is more of a criminal organization than a religious organization. CA and FL would both benefit from the taxation of Scientology. I myself would go further than taxing it, if I had a say in such things Scientology would be tried under RICO.
I look at it this way, if a church, organization r any kind of club/group wants to be tax exempt, then they should not be allowed to have any part whatsoever in any political process.
if they do participate at all in any political process then they should pay taxes in their entirety.
Location: The Chatterdome in La La Land, CaliFUNia
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Quote:
Originally Posted by evilnewbie
Religion today is more of a business than anything else. Having them tax-exempt lets them build gigantic castles and their successful priests driving jaguars. Should we retain this tax-exempt status? It clearly is not the religion of old, more money is spent for lavish and expensive things than anything. New religions like scientology is a basically a tax shelter used by wealthy celebrities and athletes... Can I start my own religion and protect all my assets? I don't believe religions need or deserve tax exemption..
Most churches I have been to are not lavish temples that operate like a business. Most churches bring in just enough money to pay the bills and if there are any funds left over, it is usually to fund missions and services for the poor. They are non-profit organizations that do lots of good within their community.
Location: The Chatterdome in La La Land, CaliFUNia
39,031 posts, read 22,971,174 times
Reputation: 36027
Quote:
Originally Posted by KantLockeMeIn
If you are a pastor/preacher/priest/minister/etc and object to social security on religious grounds, you can even be exempt from that! It's time to hop on that bus...
All of us should be protesting Social Security as it is a ponzi scheme ran by our government.
I look at it this way, if a church, organization r any kind of club/group wants to be tax exempt, then they should not be allowed to have any part whatsoever in any political process.
if they do participate at all in any political process then they should pay taxes in their entirety.
Tax-exempt political organizations are not allowed to make endorsements in elections - this is why the ACLU renounced tax-exempt status.
The same should be enforced with regard to tax-exempt religious organizations. For example the Church of Latter Day Saints making endorsements on ballot measures in California should result in their tax exemption revoked and be reclassified as a business. That would do a great deal towards easing California's fiscal crisis. If the Mormon Church is going to act like a business they should be treated as one. (Although knowing the LDS hierarchy, if this were to happen they'd recharter the Church as a bank in order to get TARP funds....)
And yes, take away Scientology's tax exempt status because it is more of a criminal organization than a religious organization. CA and FL would both benefit from the taxation of Scientology. I myself would go further than taxing it, if I had a say in such things Scientology would be tried under RICO.
The problem is as follows: under the law, churches have as much right as ACORN, Moveon.org, Planned Pernthood, The Boy and Girl Scouts of America, and a whole bunch of other organizations, to be "tax-exempt." Take it from a church, and open the door to take it from all those other organizations just the same.
That's why I said that it's a 2-edge sword.
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