Should Churches that Push Politics Remain Tax Exempt?

[Correction]

In essence, tax those damn churches, and perhaps institute some sort of refund based on their proven charitable donations.

Ahh yes, shift the burden of oversight trust from the church to the government.

Nice....

[Andarvi]

Ahh yes, shift the burden of oversight trust from the church to the government.

Nice....

At least they would have the jurisdiction to do something if there were misappropriated funds.

You know what, fuck it. Its up to the people paying tithes to the churches with mercedes driving ministers to stop funding them.

Tax em all.

[pohibaba]

As long as it's kept fair (if a satanist group establishes a charity, they should receive tax exemption) then I don't see what the real problem is. We should be promoting people volunteering to help those who are less fortunate. As far as the original post goes, I don't really have a problem with churches that talk about politics. They're a group of people who all have similar beliefs, so it's not surprising that they would all have the same political ideology. As long as the political aspect isn't the main reason for the organization, and as long as the church isn't getting a kickback from a certain politician to push them and their ideas, I don't really see a problem with it.

[Correction]

At least they would have the jurisdiction to do something if there were misappropriated funds.

You know what, fuck it. Its up to the people paying tithes to the churches with mercedes driving ministers to stop funding them.

Tax em all.

'Hey I don't like something. Let's raise their taxes!'

Hooray for sound public policy.

[JigglyJam]

Churches shouldn't be pushing politics in the first place.

[Correction]

Churches shouldn't have free speech? That's a novel argument.

The issue here is whether or not Churches which exercise their free-speech rights should also enjoy tax-exempt status. I'm sure there are those who get their jollies hating Christianity saying that Churches are always pushing politics but the rules are they cannot intervene in the specific campaigns, not that they shouldn't discuss political issues with their membership. Those are the rules being challenged and those are the rules which are causing controversy.

Suddenly everyone who hates the church is out of the woodwork saying 'tax them no matter what.' and 'they shouldn't participate in politics ever.'

Which is hilarious and stupid.

[Churchill]

Do Firefighters, Police, and Ambulances respond to emergencies at the said church? I don't care if its a relatively small tax, they should have to pay for public services like everyone else.

Christians need to get off their high horse, you aren't the only people who help their fellow man, and morals and being christian or believing in God are not mutually exclusive.
Until Christianity gets the fuck out of my government then the government shouldn't get out of Churches.

I forgot that Christian churches were the only ones that were tax free.

[Churchill]

Anyway, there's nothing wrong with churches having political opinions.

Now, churches lobbying isn't really a big issue either, because public servants shouldn't be mixing their religious views with their government duties.

They also shouldn't be accepting donations from religious organizations.

Since those last two are the norm rather than the exception, I'd rather worry about those two things before I care whether or not I should tax donations that I already taxed when it was income.

[Neosutra]

Churches shouldn't have free speech? That's a novel argument.

The issue here is whether or not Churches which exercise their free-speech rights should also enjoy tax-exempt status. I'm sure there are those who get their jollies hating Christianity saying that Churches are always pushing politics but the rules are they cannot intervene in the specific campaigns, not that they shouldn't discuss political issues with their membership. Those are the rules being challenged and those are the rules which are causing controversy.

Suddenly everyone who hates the church is out of the woodwork saying 'tax them no matter what.' and 'they shouldn't participate in politics ever.'

Which is hilarious and stupid.

They shouldnt participate in politics while under a tax exempt status.

and

I dont agree with any organization that isnt required to account for funds spend/recieved.

[Rigor]

I forgot that Christian churches were the only ones that were tax free.

See my second post which is only two posts down.

[Elvis]

Religion is a form of indoctrination. Children are brought up in the faith of their parents. What the hell do they know? They are just kids. So for these churches in question to promote a specific political idealogy isn't shocking at all.

Churches shouldn't have ever been tax-exempt no matter where the money went.

[Lampoon]

Why do we even have tax exemption?

[pohibaba]

Why do we even have taxes?

Fixed?

[Churchill]

Fixed?

oh u

[Rigor]

Cause Bejamin F-sauce said so, of course.

[MarkM.]

My personal opinion on this is that if a state/country allows for a church to apply for an obtain tax-exempt status, then yes a church, regardless of what religion it is, should be allowed tax exempt status. I also agree that after obtaining this status, said church, should have to be involved in community outreach (soup kitchens, helping the less fortunate, etc...) to keep this status.

[Neosutra]

I wonder if anyone here has the balls/time to go to each of the churches in their city/town and get a list of what that church does for the community and/or if they keep track of money spent toward non maintaining/expansion projects (and I dont mean "we give 30% to our national church version which helps people around the world or so they say"), I mean direct projects around their community or direct financial aid.

See what % actually does something to earn the status.

[Churchill]

We should tax donations because that money wasn't taxed before

[Gregorio]

I wonder if anyone here has the balls/time to go to each of the churches in their city/town and get a list of what that church does for the community and/or if they keep track of money spent toward non maintaining/expansion projects (and I dont mean "we give 30% to our national church version which helps people around the world or so they say"), I mean direct projects around their community or direct financial aid.

See what % actually does something to earn the status.

I haven't gone to church in years, I don't really believe in the stuff. Now that said, tons of churches around my area have been closing down. In the past year or so my grandma has had to change churches twice. And the churches in my area are always doing charitable things, my grandma is always trying to get me to buy stuff that benefits someone or something deserving. I know it's the same in many other areas of the country.

My point is that just because there's a handful of mega-churches expanding and actually making money, the majority of them are in financial trouble for one reason or another. Taxing them because they say to vote for Palin because she's pro-life (or whatever they're saying) is going to hurt a lot of people.

[Neosutra]

I haven't gone to church in years, I don't really believe in the stuff. Now that said, tons of churches around my area have been closing down. In the past year or so my grandma has had to change churches twice. And the churches in my area are always doing charitable things, my grandma is always trying to get me to buy stuff that benefits someone or something deserving. I know it's the same in many other areas of the country.

My point is that just because there's a handful of mega-churches expanding and actually making money, the majority of them are in financial trouble for one reason or another. Taxing them because they say to vote for Palin because she's pro-life (or whatever they're saying) is going to hurt a lot of people.

Hurt alot of people? I would consider taking advantage of our tax system in an attempt to tell highly impressionable people that
"god wants you to vote for so and so" would be far more hurtful to people than accountability of assets.

And before you say "just because my preacher says it, doesnt mean its gods word or I have to beleive it", realize that when you politisize from the pulpit, you are doing so with the implication that what you are saying is based on your doctrines and thus "gods will". Its like me in uniform: I can talk all I want about politics, but I cant go infront of a crowd and endorse a canidate while in uniform, as my uniform represents something higher than myself.

I dont have a problem with these people meeting after church and having political rallies at someone's house. They still enjoy free speach as their opinion is just as important as mine. They just have no right to violate the law and force political agendas on people that take their word as law.