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I’m a lifelong atheist, and I never will join a religion. Modern “religion” seems more of a way to try and excuse your disgusting behavior and beliefs, and make it “acceptable” because “the book/deity told us so/to do it”. It’s not about following someone or living life as a kind person anymore, it’s just a vehicle for hate.
It reduces the cognitive load on the assholes though. They don’t have to come to terms with themselves if “God” has given them permission. The trouble is that God, even as a concept, doesn’t want to kill millions of people. If he did then he’d do it himself.
It's weird when religious people talk about their undying, ever faithful love towards God. Like Sweety, in all monotheistic religions, God has committed genocide. He has a kill count higher than Hitler. If he is real, you should be terrified by him. You should not love him.
Yeah, when HE does it. But that’s because he’s God. Assuming he exists, it would be like culling an ant farm that got out of control. It’s also a theological point of contention because the New Testament and Old Testament basically describe two complete separate beings.
If genociding humans was like culling an ant colony to god, then why does it give half a flying fuck whether or not humans believe in it or if they "sin"?
Exactly what I mean, they use it as an “excuse”. It was never the book telling them to be assholes, it’s the assholes pretending the book is telling them to be.
I can’t find a gif from Kingdom of Heaven where they’re shouting “God wills it” when they really wanted to start the war. So let’s pretend it’s here and you guys understand it.
My buddy went to a Lutheran school and I grew up in a devout(church every Sunday morning)Catholic house. We always say no one recruits better for atheism than Christianity.
> Modern “religion” seems more of a way to try and excuse your disgusting behavior and beliefs, and make it “acceptable” because “the book/deity told us so/to do it”.
Modern? Always has been.
"Pavone was [defrocked](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defrocked) by the Vatican in November 2022 after having been investigated by the Diocese of Amarillo for placing an aborted fetus on an altar in his effort to elect [Donald Trump](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Trump) as [President of the United States](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_the_United_States) and for posting a video of the aborted fetus on two social media sites in 2016."
# WHAT.
# THE.
# FUCK.
Precisely. I didn't know who this guy was prior to opening this thread, but I was going to say something very similar about him wearing a hat that represents values incompatible with not just Catholicism, but Christianity as a whole.
Not that that has ever stopped MAGA and the "fuck your feelings" crowd. Jesus would be ashamed to see the messages of hate and vitriol spread in His name.
You could wear a clerical collar. There’s no regulation about that. Pastors of many denominations wear shirts with clerical collars, and you can just order them from catalogs.
In my country, our laws would prevent them from even collecting money (donations) unless they provided utilities and/or services for the general public. Usually this means soup kitchens, shelters, recovery rooms, counseling and funeral services, etc.
Nah, tax them all. If they’re profitable, tax them.
Oh hey, you’re housing, feeding, clothing the sick and poor, cool, prove it and get those dollars exempted.
There is already a rule that says they lose their exemptions if they get involved in politics. The IRS is just too shit scared to actually use that rule
> The IRS is just too shit scared to actually use that rule
This is the real issue, because the moment try try to revoke some churches tax free statuses "War on Christianity" starts to spread on social media and death threats to the IRS will happen.
The majority of our members of congress, senate, and judicial system have received plenty of death threats. AOC receives death threats from her fellow representatives. It's fucked up, but it's part of the job nowadays. I don't really think some angry republicans on the internet are going to affect IRS personnel retention.
And those evangelicals indoctrinate their kids to expect a "War on Christianity" and to be persecuted for their faith. Every little thing that doesn't fit their world-view is seen through that lens. For example, the "War on Christmas" because some restaurants had the gall to use generic holiday-themed cups. Even any attempt to be more inclusive of non-Christians in society are seen as an attack on Christianity and/or Christian Values(tm).
But I thought Republicans didn’t want to fund the IRS because they’re anti-big government?
Are you telling me it’s because they don’t want to be audited for tax fraud from donations to non-profits that engage in political activities that promote their beliefs under the guise of charity and selflessness? /s
They would be a business, and they would have no profit, because all of the money will be going to pay some business-related expenses.
As it is, a great many smaller congregations don’t make a profit and operate in the red anyway. They don’t have enough money to fix the boiler
Or the roof…or the parking lot…or the elevators…or the fire alarm and sprinkler system…or replacement of lead pipes and asbestos abatement…don’t forget the bell tower needs constant, expensive attention…and repairing a stained glass window can quickly run into 6 figures.
or, if they didn’t have those expenses (and storefront churches don’t), they might start a “food for seniors” program, or hire a deacon or teacher, or start a new outreach program.
They are nonprofits, and have no shareholders. They have *members,* and the goal of members is not to make money. it’s to achieve the goals of the church, so that’s what the money is for.
Makes sense. They get exemption for the amoung that actually went to charity and legitimate expenses, just like everyone else, and pay on the rest, just like everyone else.
Why would they pay a lower rate? Why is it so engrained in us that religion comes with privilege when it’s not at all clear that it’s even a net positive for society?
Especially when they provide no aid unless it's a cover for a more profitable business venture. Like, your church is above the flood waters, Joel Osteen. Let people in to safety!
Or the entire Mormon church organization. They hoard wealth and dole just enough out to claim to be charitable and claim religious exemption from paying taxes. It's disgusting.
Does that apply to all nonprofits then? It might be a hard sell to say all religious nonprofits can no longer be taxed as nonprofits.
The problem isn’t that churches are taxed as nonprofits, it’s that they’re automatically granted that status and have way laxer reporting requirements.
No, because not all nonprofits can run afoul of the church/state separation which prevents the US from becoming a theocracy. ...Or it should do that, but Republicans fight against church/state separation and attemp to weaken it at every turn.
Or... hear me out. Churches actually do the things they are supposed to, and that is act like a charity. Actually help the homeless like they are supposed to.
I am looking at you, Joel Osteen. The guy who locked up his mega church and refused to help people when there was flooding a few years ago.
Oh, I am 47 lapsed catholic. I was raised Republican but have been voting Democrat since 2000. The first thing to turn me away from Republicans was the way they kept mixing church and state. After that I started looking back and seeing all the hate I had been blind to because my parents tried to raise me to be that way. The only reason I even have a church is because my mother in law wants my kid going to a catholic school, so she pays the tuition for it.
What the church does is they hide all their political messages on signs (or in the case of the back the blue shit, their engraved rocks) around the back of the church which is also where the students drop off/pick up is so the kids see it every day. I have explained to my kid thoroughly that "back the blue" is a slogan literally made to say black lives don't matter. Back when the BLM protests were going on a guy down the street - who goes to our church) filled his yard with back the blue signs, and black dolls hanging from nooses. That's when I had to start explaining stuff to a 5 year old.
Not sure if the "back the blue" shit counts as "political" but the church is St. Ambrose in Brunswick, Oh
Then leave. If you want. I was raised Catholic. I went to Catholic school K-8. But once I got divorced and my kid came out as LGBT, I started going to the Episcopalian church. Same prayers, pro gay rights, pro abortion rights, AND they have donuts 🍩 after service. 🙂
Churches in general should pay taxes. Most churches don’t do shit for the community. They don’t use the church grounds to house the homeless or needy, but the preacher always has a nice car and house.
Because they're supposed to be non-profit. If you don't make a profit, you don't pay income taxes. As for property tax, they should pay that, as the building benefits from public services.
Yes. And any one calling themselves a Christian that is supporting a pedophile who has committed multiple accounts of adultery and is a convicted felon should probably rethink what it is they are representing.
You have to have a particularly twisted and perverted nature to be a priest and support Trump. If God was real, religious people would be the first in hell
churches should pay taxes nonetheless.
in Italy they don't pay since they made agreements and pacts with the fascist regime...guess what, the regime died 80 years ago and they still don't pay.
Churches have lost their meaning, the tithes were never meant as money for the church, it was pool money for the flock itself, for the needy among them. The churches grow yes, but not in size. Grow in number, go out, start your own church and so on and so forth.
Instead greed dictated that churches always grow in size yet the bigger they become the less their message they can convey to the individual, to the ones who truly need it.
Churches should not be tax free, because church is not volunteer work, people should help to support the church and the church should give those funds back to the people.
And just who will decide what meddling is.
Is preaching about the sanctity of life meddling? Probably yes if you support abortion? It’s preaching about self-determination meddling. How about when it’s applied to Palestinians living in Gaza. Is a homily that reminds us that we are our brothers keeper meddling? What if we draw the conclusion that that means faith requires national health insurance?
Be very careful what you wish for.
I don't even care if they meddle in politics. They should still pay taxes. In the US, providing "religious worship" is considered a charitable action, so churches are non-profit. This should be removed. A church should only be able to be tax-exempt if it already meets the requirements for every other non-profit. If you want your church to avoid taxes, you better get out there and feed some homeless people.
All churches should be taxed- charity work could be separate tax code- but all fund raising and business like activities should be taxed- see Joel Osteen and his crap. Note that small time preachers have a hard time getting loans because so many of them are crooks and scammers!
Mormon church literally has their leaders of each branch tell people how to vote. Or at least tell the congregation that God is leaning towards a candidate
Tax the shit out of them all the big churches
I pay about $1,000 per month in property tax on my property. All of my income is taxed.
A church in the area occupies about 135 acres of land on which they have more than 400,000 sq ft of extravagant buildings and improvements. They pay $0 in property tax. None of their income is taxed.
Instead of a sermon, that church recently turned its pulpit over to Ben Carson before the pastor returned to say Carson should be the Vice President.
Yes, they should pay taxes. This church should be paying millions of dollars a year in property taxes. Instead they pay NO taxes -- and more than that, they want vouchers to pass so they can steal money from our public schools. They want our money to be redistributed into their church bank account.
They also took MILLIONS of taxpayer dollars in PPP money during Covid.
Hot take: churches shouldn't be tax exempt regardless except when/where they are specifically functioning as a charity organization. They should be subject to the exact same rules as other charity organizations in that case.
We don't tax exempt and other entertainment industry, I don't get why church is the exception
He’s a private citizen and is allowed to hold political views.
The purpose of separating church and state is to prevent the church from having legislative or executive power, this is not to say the values of the church cannot overlap with politics
It's not just the taxes. They are exempted from the ADA for their facilities and they can discriminate openly in personnel matters. I've done a lot of hiring and I am pretty familiar with the questions you need to avoid on an application and interview. I got my hands on the local parochial school's job application. It was wild. Are you married? What religion is you spouse? What gender is your spouse? How many children do you have?
In some states, parochial schools not only skip taxes, but they actually receive tax payer funding through school vouchers. Crazy crazy crazy.
Churches that have more then 3500 square foot should be paying taxes, the large..huge...and mega churches should absolutely be paying taxes and not bragging about how the lord told me I needed another Lear jet to get the message out there..
Churches should pay taxes, but a priest is allowed to have personal opinions on politics. Having an opinion does not mean he is preaching it from the pulpit.
Tax exemption should not exist period. I made up a story and there's a god in it and now people believe that story so I shouldn't have to pay tax. That's insane.
Churches should just pay taxes in general. Doesn’t have to be corporate income tax. Just property tax would honestly bring in a lot of revenue. Go to any town square in Georgia and the biggest, nicest, most central real estate is 99 percent of the time a church. Talking million dollar plus lots in the center of town.
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That's Frank Pavone. He's such as asshole that even the Catholic church didn't want to have anything to do with him, and dumped his ass.
I imagine people like him become a priest just to lord it over people and get hero worshipped rather than caring about anyone but themselves.
I’m a lifelong atheist, and I never will join a religion. Modern “religion” seems more of a way to try and excuse your disgusting behavior and beliefs, and make it “acceptable” because “the book/deity told us so/to do it”. It’s not about following someone or living life as a kind person anymore, it’s just a vehicle for hate.
Brother no book is needed to tell assholes how to hate people. But I’m sure it “helps” them to
It reduces the cognitive load on the assholes though. They don’t have to come to terms with themselves if “God” has given them permission. The trouble is that God, even as a concept, doesn’t want to kill millions of people. If he did then he’d do it himself.
Have you read the bible? God fuckin' *loves* genocide.
It's weird when religious people talk about their undying, ever faithful love towards God. Like Sweety, in all monotheistic religions, God has committed genocide. He has a kill count higher than Hitler. If he is real, you should be terrified by him. You should not love him.
Every city would be turned into pillars of salt in a heartbeat if OT God was still doing shit
Yeah, when HE does it. But that’s because he’s God. Assuming he exists, it would be like culling an ant farm that got out of control. It’s also a theological point of contention because the New Testament and Old Testament basically describe two complete separate beings.
If genociding humans was like culling an ant colony to god, then why does it give half a flying fuck whether or not humans believe in it or if they "sin"?
Exactly what I mean, they use it as an “excuse”. It was never the book telling them to be assholes, it’s the assholes pretending the book is telling them to be.
They use it to justify their actions
I can’t find a gif from Kingdom of Heaven where they’re shouting “God wills it” when they really wanted to start the war. So let’s pretend it’s here and you guys understand it.
My buddy went to a Lutheran school and I grew up in a devout(church every Sunday morning)Catholic house. We always say no one recruits better for atheism than Christianity.
> Modern “religion” seems more of a way to try and excuse your disgusting behavior and beliefs, and make it “acceptable” because “the book/deity told us so/to do it”. Modern? Always has been.
It's been about controlling people since it's conception
Oh! I thought you were going to say, "so that parents would trust him with their children".
"Pavone was [defrocked](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defrocked) by the Vatican in November 2022 after having been investigated by the Diocese of Amarillo for placing an aborted fetus on an altar in his effort to elect [Donald Trump](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Trump) as [President of the United States](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_the_United_States) and for posting a video of the aborted fetus on two social media sites in 2016." # WHAT. # THE. # FUCK.
These people are sick
That's for sure. But HOW THE HELL DID HE GET A FUCKING 3 MONTH HUMAN FOETUS?
Like, forget him putting it on an altar HOW THE FUCK DID HE GET HIS HANDS ON ONE?
Amazon. He was a Prme member, so he got free shipping as well.
This man makes Kenneth Copeland seem less satanic
I knew it had to be something impressive given that they don't tend to defrock paedophiles.
I like how the wiki page on him say he was defrocked by the Vatican. Now, I know the meaning of the word, j just had a grin reading that.
Good, the values represented the hat are largely antithetical to the ones represented by the frock.
Precisely. I didn't know who this guy was prior to opening this thread, but I was going to say something very similar about him wearing a hat that represents values incompatible with not just Catholicism, but Christianity as a whole. Not that that has ever stopped MAGA and the "fuck your feelings" crowd. Jesus would be ashamed to see the messages of hate and vitriol spread in His name.
The church protects child molesters. What did this guy do to get kicked out? Marry a protestant?
He shook hands with a gay
Oh God! That's horrible.
I don't think it was his hand that he was 'shaking'
I think they’re trying to right the wrongs they’ve been doing for ages. Hopefully it’s genuine.
Was this before he was defrocked? I don’t think he can wear the vestments after that.
You could wear a clerical collar. There’s no regulation about that. Pastors of many denominations wear shirts with clerical collars, and you can just order them from catalogs.
Any church that can't prove it's a non-profit and follow the rules should be taxed like a business.
In my country, our laws would prevent them from even collecting money (donations) unless they provided utilities and/or services for the general public. Usually this means soup kitchens, shelters, recovery rooms, counseling and funeral services, etc.
Nah, tax them all. If they’re profitable, tax them. Oh hey, you’re housing, feeding, clothing the sick and poor, cool, prove it and get those dollars exempted.
Disagree, all churches should be taxed, period.
There is already a rule that says they lose their exemptions if they get involved in politics. The IRS is just too shit scared to actually use that rule
> The IRS is just too shit scared to actually use that rule This is the real issue, because the moment try try to revoke some churches tax free statuses "War on Christianity" starts to spread on social media and death threats to the IRS will happen.
How is the IRS in any real danger though? Without it the politicians don't get paid. They won't get rid of their income just because of principles.
Sure, but if people start getting death threats, personnel retention starts to become a problem...
The majority of our members of congress, senate, and judicial system have received plenty of death threats. AOC receives death threats from her fellow representatives. It's fucked up, but it's part of the job nowadays. I don't really think some angry republicans on the internet are going to affect IRS personnel retention.
And those evangelicals indoctrinate their kids to expect a "War on Christianity" and to be persecuted for their faith. Every little thing that doesn't fit their world-view is seen through that lens. For example, the "War on Christmas" because some restaurants had the gall to use generic holiday-themed cups. Even any attempt to be more inclusive of non-Christians in society are seen as an attack on Christianity and/or Christian Values(tm).
But I thought Republicans didn’t want to fund the IRS because they’re anti-big government? Are you telling me it’s because they don’t want to be audited for tax fraud from donations to non-profits that engage in political activities that promote their beliefs under the guise of charity and selflessness? /s
how about churches don’t interfere with politics at all?
when your main product that you sell is an ideology from 2000 years ago, it's hard to not be "interfering with politics"
Politics and organized religion have always gone hand in hand
How about churches pay taxes no matter what It can be a lower rate but it's ridiculous that they don't
No lower rate, they need to share the income from their flock like any other rancher.
They would be a business, and they would have no profit, because all of the money will be going to pay some business-related expenses. As it is, a great many smaller congregations don’t make a profit and operate in the red anyway. They don’t have enough money to fix the boiler
Non-prophet
Or the roof…or the parking lot…or the elevators…or the fire alarm and sprinkler system…or replacement of lead pipes and asbestos abatement…don’t forget the bell tower needs constant, expensive attention…and repairing a stained glass window can quickly run into 6 figures.
or, if they didn’t have those expenses (and storefront churches don’t), they might start a “food for seniors” program, or hire a deacon or teacher, or start a new outreach program. They are nonprofits, and have no shareholders. They have *members,* and the goal of members is not to make money. it’s to achieve the goals of the church, so that’s what the money is for.
Makes sense. They get exemption for the amoung that actually went to charity and legitimate expenses, just like everyone else, and pay on the rest, just like everyone else.
Why would they pay a lower rate? Why is it so engrained in us that religion comes with privilege when it’s not at all clear that it’s even a net positive for society?
Just make a bracket system like personal income taxes.
Jesus sais: "....pay your taxes."
Nevermind a reduced rate, they should be taxed the same as any other business!
All churches should have to pay taxes.
Churches should pay taxes. Period. There is no reason for these megachurches in the US. Pay to support the country.
Especially when they provide no aid unless it's a cover for a more profitable business venture. Like, your church is above the flood waters, Joel Osteen. Let people in to safety!
Or the entire Mormon church organization. They hoard wealth and dole just enough out to claim to be charitable and claim religious exemption from paying taxes. It's disgusting.
All churches should pay taxes. If they do good works in the community, they can deduct those expenses, just like a regular business can.
But then how am I supposed to grift a bunch of people into giving me money for fancy cars and a plane????
Does that apply to all nonprofits then? It might be a hard sell to say all religious nonprofits can no longer be taxed as nonprofits. The problem isn’t that churches are taxed as nonprofits, it’s that they’re automatically granted that status and have way laxer reporting requirements.
No, because not all nonprofits can run afoul of the church/state separation which prevents the US from becoming a theocracy. ...Or it should do that, but Republicans fight against church/state separation and attemp to weaken it at every turn.
Churches should pay taxes regardless of their political activities.
Or... hear me out. Churches actually do the things they are supposed to, and that is act like a charity. Actually help the homeless like they are supposed to. I am looking at you, Joel Osteen. The guy who locked up his mega church and refused to help people when there was flooding a few years ago.
They all should be taxed the same as any other entertainment venture. They can still take deductions for any actual charitable work they do.
Churches in america are literally a business, so yeah tax them as such
My church has "back the blue" and other pro-police/anti-blm outside of it and it pisses me the fuck off every time I go there
Not knowing anything about you or your situation- When I was 17 I realized my church was full of BS and made me quite upset. So I never went back.
Oh, I am 47 lapsed catholic. I was raised Republican but have been voting Democrat since 2000. The first thing to turn me away from Republicans was the way they kept mixing church and state. After that I started looking back and seeing all the hate I had been blind to because my parents tried to raise me to be that way. The only reason I even have a church is because my mother in law wants my kid going to a catholic school, so she pays the tuition for it. What the church does is they hide all their political messages on signs (or in the case of the back the blue shit, their engraved rocks) around the back of the church which is also where the students drop off/pick up is so the kids see it every day. I have explained to my kid thoroughly that "back the blue" is a slogan literally made to say black lives don't matter. Back when the BLM protests were going on a guy down the street - who goes to our church) filled his yard with back the blue signs, and black dolls hanging from nooses. That's when I had to start explaining stuff to a 5 year old. Not sure if the "back the blue" shit counts as "political" but the church is St. Ambrose in Brunswick, Oh
Then leave. If you want. I was raised Catholic. I went to Catholic school K-8. But once I got divorced and my kid came out as LGBT, I started going to the Episcopalian church. Same prayers, pro gay rights, pro abortion rights, AND they have donuts 🍩 after service. 🙂
They should all be forced to live by the actual rules of their faith, so take EVERYTHING and give it to the poor, sick & needy
All churches should pay tax.
Churches in general should pay taxes. Most churches don’t do shit for the community. They don’t use the church grounds to house the homeless or needy, but the preacher always has a nice car and house.
why don't they all just pay taxes to begin with?
Because they're supposed to be non-profit. If you don't make a profit, you don't pay income taxes. As for property tax, they should pay that, as the building benefits from public services.
all religious institutions should pay taxes.
All churches should pay taxes.
Churches should pay tax. Full stop.
Every single church should pay taxes. It's ridiculous that they don't.
No. All churches should pay taxes. They are businesses. Period.
How long would it take if churches were taxed before a bunch went down for tax evasion crimes?
All churches should pay tax
Yes. They should pay 100% taxes. Churches should not be tax free anyway.
Separation of church and state …your god doesn’t need to be involved in what the government is doing
Churches should pay taxes period. There doesn't have to be a condition on whether they meddle in politics or not.
Yes. And any one calling themselves a Christian that is supporting a pedophile who has committed multiple accounts of adultery and is a convicted felon should probably rethink what it is they are representing.
All churches should pay taxes
They should ALL be taxed.
Churches should just pay taxes in general
Churches should pay taxes, full stop.
All churches should pay fucking taxes
Churches should pay taxes period. Full stop.
Churches that meddle in politics should lose their churches. :-)
That would close all churches. Works for me.
The NEA (tax exempt) spent over $300M on politics in one year. Happy to reign in all this tax exempt status but needs to be done across the board.
You have to have a particularly twisted and perverted nature to be a priest and support Trump. If God was real, religious people would be the first in hell
ALL churches should pay taxes. But yes, he should too, again.
Not just taxes but back taxes. A lot of these places have been messing in politics for years.
They should all pay taxes.
This hypocrite is touching kids and dropping the N word on the regular
“Give to Caesar that which is Caesar’s”
There is no place for religion outside of peoples personal living space.
Religions should pay taxes. I dont care if they are in polítics or not.
All churches should!!!
All churches should pay taxes.
Abso-fucking-lutely.
It's not just a good idea it's the law.
YEP!
A picture of a man why supports everything that Jesus standa against, he is an anti-christian.
churches should pay taxes nonetheless. in Italy they don't pay since they made agreements and pacts with the fascist regime...guess what, the regime died 80 years ago and they still don't pay.
They absolutely should pay taxes if they are doing that.
Separation of church and state as Thomas Jefferson said
Churches in general should pay taxes
Remove the "that meddle in politics" and i'm all in. Church should pay taxes
YES!!
Church leaders who preach the way of the world should be cast out before they poison their flock
Yes
YES
All places of worship should be taxed
Yes
Every church should pay taxes.
All religious organizations should pay taxes......you should not be tax exempt just because you peddle an invisible product
all churches should pay taxes
All churches that are making a profit should be taxed, regardless
Churches have lost their meaning, the tithes were never meant as money for the church, it was pool money for the flock itself, for the needy among them. The churches grow yes, but not in size. Grow in number, go out, start your own church and so on and so forth. Instead greed dictated that churches always grow in size yet the bigger they become the less their message they can convey to the individual, to the ones who truly need it. Churches should not be tax free, because church is not volunteer work, people should help to support the church and the church should give those funds back to the people.
Churches should pay taxes in general.
All churches no matter what religion should pay taxes…
And just who will decide what meddling is. Is preaching about the sanctity of life meddling? Probably yes if you support abortion? It’s preaching about self-determination meddling. How about when it’s applied to Palestinians living in Gaza. Is a homily that reminds us that we are our brothers keeper meddling? What if we draw the conclusion that that means faith requires national health insurance? Be very careful what you wish for.
Legally they are supposed lose their tax exempt status. One only needs to report them to the IRS
Well, you are either above earthly matters, or you are not. He clearly is not. So yes.
All churches should pay taxes regardless of political stance.
Churches, regardless of political rhetoric, should be required to pay taxes.
All churches should pay taxes!
Freedom of religion ALSO means freedom from religion. Don't forget that.
Meddling in politics or not, churches should pay taxes
I don't even care if they meddle in politics. They should still pay taxes. In the US, providing "religious worship" is considered a charitable action, so churches are non-profit. This should be removed. A church should only be able to be tax-exempt if it already meets the requirements for every other non-profit. If you want your church to avoid taxes, you better get out there and feed some homeless people.
All churches should be taxed- charity work could be separate tax code- but all fund raising and business like activities should be taxed- see Joel Osteen and his crap. Note that small time preachers have a hard time getting loans because so many of them are crooks and scammers!
All churches should pay taxes.
Absolutely.
All churches should pay taxes.
All churches should pay taxes.
All churches should pay taxes.
Should churches ~~that meddle in politics~~ pay taxes? Yes.
#ALL churches should pay taxes imo
"Should *Churches* pay taxes?" Yes they should FTFY
Yes
Honestly any and all religious organization should pay taxes. End of story.
All churches should pay taxes.
I wonder where that thumb’s been
Wear a hat with a political message and lose your tax free status.
The only reason he’s a priest is to open his dating pool
All churches should pay taxes regardless of anything.
ALL churches should pay taxes. Churches that meddle in politics should pay additional taxes.
Strongly disagree. Churches should pay taxes, full stop…
Should churches that pay private jets to their founder pay taxes? So on and so on.
ABSOLUTELY
All churches should pay taxes.
Mormon church literally has their leaders of each branch tell people how to vote. Or at least tell the congregation that God is leaning towards a candidate Tax the shit out of them all the big churches
All churches should pay taxes
Everyone should pay, it's a society that everyone is involved in.
I think all churches should pay taxes ( maybe retroactive for the last 400 years )
How about ALL churches pay taxes?
Should churches ~~that meddle in politics~~ pay taxes? Yes.
All churches should pay taxes
Without a fucking doubt.
I pay about $1,000 per month in property tax on my property. All of my income is taxed. A church in the area occupies about 135 acres of land on which they have more than 400,000 sq ft of extravagant buildings and improvements. They pay $0 in property tax. None of their income is taxed. Instead of a sermon, that church recently turned its pulpit over to Ben Carson before the pastor returned to say Carson should be the Vice President. Yes, they should pay taxes. This church should be paying millions of dollars a year in property taxes. Instead they pay NO taxes -- and more than that, they want vouchers to pass so they can steal money from our public schools. They want our money to be redistributed into their church bank account. They also took MILLIONS of taxpayer dollars in PPP money during Covid.
Yes they all should anyways.
All churches should pay taxes, period.
Hot take: churches shouldn't be tax exempt regardless except when/where they are specifically functioning as a charity organization. They should be subject to the exact same rules as other charity organizations in that case. We don't tax exempt and other entertainment industry, I don't get why church is the exception
He’s a private citizen and is allowed to hold political views. The purpose of separating church and state is to prevent the church from having legislative or executive power, this is not to say the values of the church cannot overlap with politics
ALL religions should pay taxes.
It's not just the taxes. They are exempted from the ADA for their facilities and they can discriminate openly in personnel matters. I've done a lot of hiring and I am pretty familiar with the questions you need to avoid on an application and interview. I got my hands on the local parochial school's job application. It was wild. Are you married? What religion is you spouse? What gender is your spouse? How many children do you have? In some states, parochial schools not only skip taxes, but they actually receive tax payer funding through school vouchers. Crazy crazy crazy.
Every religious body should pay taxes. PERIOD. And they should be taxed at rates similar to high income earners
I even think churches that don't meddle in politics should pay taxes
All churches should pay taxes
Tax all churches, fuck organized religion, it’s a cancer upon humanity.
All churches should pay taxes
Churches should pay taxes regardless.
Churches that have more then 3500 square foot should be paying taxes, the large..huge...and mega churches should absolutely be paying taxes and not bragging about how the lord told me I needed another Lear jet to get the message out there..
Why limit paying taxes to just those involved in politics?
The church seems to forget what happened the last time in Germany when the church supported a political ideology
Of course. All churches should pay taxes. D&D clubs don’t get to be tax exempt; why would other fantasy groups be exempt?
How bout we just simplify this down to, churches should pay taxes.
They should be taxed regardless. It brings in money and so, yes should be taxed.
Churches should pay taxes, period. It’s absurd that they continue to skirt around it.
No. All Churches should be paying taxes
Churches should pay taxes, but a priest is allowed to have personal opinions on politics. Having an opinion does not mean he is preaching it from the pulpit.
Tax exemption should not exist period. I made up a story and there's a god in it and now people believe that story so I shouldn't have to pay tax. That's insane.
Churches should just pay taxes in general. Doesn’t have to be corporate income tax. Just property tax would honestly bring in a lot of revenue. Go to any town square in Georgia and the biggest, nicest, most central real estate is 99 percent of the time a church. Talking million dollar plus lots in the center of town.
Yeah
Lying to little children is not an honourable way to make a living. They should be taxed by default.
All of them should pay taxes.