Should churches opposed to gay marriage get the same tax breaks?

[emilynghiem]

Yes, Churches that Oppose Gay Marriage Should Still Get Tax Breaks

The issue with HGTV hosts Chris and Joanna Gaines brought up
objections to their church taking a stance opposing gay marriage as against their beliefs.

Why is it wrong for Atheists and secular humanists
to oppose and reject Christianity and Christian beliefs and practices.

But Christians can't oppose LGBT beliefs in gay marriage practices. What?

I found the above link with arguments that churches opposed to gay marriage
shouldn't get the same tax breaks as other religious organizations.

(NOTE: Some people believe that NO religious organizations should have special status. But treat them all as other nonprofit or as business corporations depending on how they operate.)

What do you think?
Of the tax issue for churches: Yes, No, Other?
Of the belief for or against gay marriage, and why should one belief be endorsed by govt while
punishing the other? Why aren't beliefs
* for or against Christianity treated equally as people's free choice
* for or against homosexuality and gay marriage treated equally as people's free choice

If the govt isn't going to punish Atheists for harassing Christians and demanding to
remove references to Christian practices and teachings from public schools, institutions and policies.
Why should govt start targeting and punishing Christians who don't agree with
references to faith-based beliefs in homosexual, transgender or other LGBT practices and teachings that go against their Christian beliefs?

????

Is it REALLY that hard to treat all such beliefs equally and NEUTRALLY through govt?
taking NEITHER side but leaving it to personal choice?
is that too much to ask to be NEUTRAL, and equally inclusive of both sides' beliefs? Really?

 

[TheOldSchool]

As per our constitution, places of religious worship get certain protections. Unless that's changed, those protections must be honored.

 

[Avatar4321]

"Congress shall make no law" is fairly clear

 

[Divine Wind]

Felix is an idiot as proven by his conflating churches and religious universities. IRS 501(c)(3) exemptions are clear and should be enforced. Nothing in the says a church has to abide by political decisions. Where was Felix when some churches spoke against blood donations or surgery?

Tax Information for Churches and Religious Organizations

 

[Dont Taz Me Bro]

I don't understand why any church gets a tax break

 

[EvilCat Breath]

The crazies want Chip and Joanna Gaines punished for what their church believes. That's truly insane. The left wants to control who goes to what church people go to.

It's a Good Life

On an isolated family farm, a young boy with vast mental powers, but lacking emotional development, holds his terrified family in thrall to his every juvenile wish.
Director:
James Sheldon
Writers:
Rod Serling (teleplay by), Jerome Bixby (based on a short story by) | 1 more credit »
Stars:
John Larch, Cloris Leachman, Don Keefer |See full cast & crew »

In a small farming community in Ohio, a young boy by the name of Anthony Fremont terrorizes those around him. Anthony has the ability to command anything he wants simply by thought. The community is cut off from the outside world and the boy insists that those around him think only pleasant thoughts, and if they don't, he eliminates them. Everyone walks in fear of the lad who ably demonstrates what he's prepared to do at a small party in his home. Written by garykmcd

 

[Divine Wind]

I don't understand why any church gets a tax break

Same reason why any other 501(c)(3) group gets a tax break.

 

[LeftofLeft]

I don't understand why any church gets a tax break

I don't understand why people who work for the Government are subject to drug testing yet people on welfare get money from the Government without working are not subject to drug tests. The money is coming from the same pot.

 

[Divine Wind]

I don't understand why any church gets a tax break

I don't understand why people who work for the Government are subject to drug testing yet people on welfare get money from the Government without working are not subject to drug tests.

Senators and Representatives should be drug and alcohol tested too.

 

[EvilCat Breath]

I don't understand why any church gets a tax break

Because the government gets to tell them what they can and cannot say. A church could not endorse a political candidate or speak out on social issues. A church may refuse to perform same sex ceremonies but may not condemn homosexuality.

 

[BULLDOG]

When did being an atheist become grounds for tax exemption?

 

[BULLDOG]

I don't understand why any church gets a tax break

Because the government gets to tell them what they can and cannot say. A church could not endorse a political candidate or speak out on social issues. A church may refuse to perform same sex ceremonies but may not condemn homosexuality.

They can condemn homosexuality all they want.They just can't treat them unfairly when they are doing business with the general pubic.

 

[whitehall]

Think about this one. Thanks to John McCain's poorly written "campaign finance law" we have left wing propaganda sources like Media Matters which are tax exempt. Think about it, the 250 year old 1st Amendment guarantees freedom of religion but the ten year old Campaign reform guarantees that (mostly left wing) political propaganda is tax exempt. Media Matters masthead claims that they are in the business of "only" monitoring conservative speech. The point is that you need to look at political propaganda before you start attacking the the religious freedom inherent in the 1st Amendment.

 

[ColonelAngus]

Maybe, what about sanctuary cities that violate federal law? Should they get Federal money?

 

[Billy_Kinetta]

The crazies want Chip and Joanna Gaines punished for what their church believes. That's truly insane. The left wants to control who goes to what church people go to.

It's a Good Life

On an isolated family farm, a young boy with vast mental powers, but lacking emotional development, holds his terrified family in thrall to his every juvenile wish.
Director:
James Sheldon
Writers:
Rod Serling (teleplay by), Jerome Bixby (based on a short story by) | 1 more credit »
Stars:
John Larch, Cloris Leachman, Don Keefer |See full cast & crew »

In a small farming community in Ohio, a young boy by the name of Anthony Fremont terrorizes those around him. Anthony has the ability to command anything he wants simply by thought. The community is cut off from the outside world and the boy insists that those around him think only pleasant thoughts, and if they don't, he eliminates them. Everyone walks in fear of the lad who ably demonstrates what he's prepared to do at a small party in his home. Written by garykmcd

 

[Blackrook]

The government can't tax churches because that's in the First Amendment. The power to tax is the power to destroy. The churches should never have accepted any limitations on what they are allowed to do or say in order to get a tax exemption.

 

[Divine Wind]

When did being an atheist become grounds for tax exemption?

It's a religious belief so, as long as they comply with the requirements, they're good to go.

Tax Information for Churches and Religious Organizations

 

[mdk]

Yes, they should get the same tax breaks whether they oppose or support gay marriage.

 

[BULLDOG]

Think about this one. Thanks to John McCain's poorly written "campaign finance law" we have left wing propaganda sources like Media Matters which are tax exempt. Think about it, the 250 year old 1st Amendment guarantees freedom of religion but the ten year old Campaign reform guarantees that (mostly left wing) political propaganda is tax exempt. Media Matters masthead claims that they are in the business of "only" monitoring conservative speech. The point is that you need to look at political propaganda before you start attacking the the religious freedom inherent in the 1st Amendment.

Here is a short list of hate groups that enjoy the same tax exemption.

Tax-Exempt Charities the Southern Poverty Law Center Lists as Hate Groups

Abiding Truth Ministries Anaheim, Calif. $100,363
American Border Patrol Sierra Vista, Ariz. $930,541
American College of Pediatricians Gainesville, Fla. $88,991
American Family Association Tupelo, Miss. $29,790,357
American Freedom Defense Initiative New York, N.Y. $729,031
American Freedom Law Center Chandler, Ariz. $1,022,916
American Immigration Control Foundation Monterey, Va. $511,557
American Vision Powder Springs, Ga. $303,936
Brother Nathanael Foundation Priest River, Ind. $233,897
C-Fam Washington, D.C. $1,657,233
Californians for Population Stabilization Santa Barbara, Calif. $1,181,416
Campaign for Children and Families, aka Save California Sacramento, Calif. $217,241
Center for Security Policy Washington, D.C. $4,562,641
Chalcedon Foundation Vallecito, Calif. $795,997
Christian Action Network Forest, Va. $1,055,190
Christian Anti-Defamation League Vista, Calif. $156,479
Christian Home Educators of Colorado, aka Generations With Vision Parker, Colo. $1,292,570
Citizens for Community Values Cincinnati, Ohio $460,366
Citizens for Community Values Foundation Cincinnati, Ohio $0
Conservative Citizens Foundation Old Monroe, Mo. $0
Coral Ridge Ministries Media, aka D. James Kennedy Ministries (formerly known as Truth in Action) Fort Lauderdale, Fla. $5,709,355
Council for Social and Economic Studies Washington, D.C. $40,114
David Horowitz Freedom Center Sherman Oaks, Calif. $7,532,891
Family Research Council Washington, D.C. $15,420,182
Family Research Institute Colorado Springs, Colo. $59,911
Federation for American Immigration Reform Washington, D.C. $8,594,856
Fitzgerald Griffin Foundation Vienna, Va. $41,090
Florida Family Association Tampa, Fla. $209,625
Friends of Intelligence Practitioners, aka Citizens for National Security Boca Raton, Fla. $114,053
Global Helping to Advance Women & Children, aka Family Watch International Gilbert, Ariz. $350,909
IHS Press Norfolk, Va. $0
Illinois Family Institute Carol Stream, Ill. $540,400
In the Spirit of Chartres Committee Carrollton, Va. $0
Israel United In Christ Newburgh, N.Y. n/a
Jihad Watch Manchester, N.H. $68,442
Legion for the Survival of Freedom, aka Institute for Historical Review Santa Ana, Calif. $39,021
Liberty Counsel Orlando, Fla. $5,572,566
Masjid Al Islam Oakland, Calif. $7,200
Nation of Islam Mosque 74 Indianapolis, Ind. n/a
Nation of Islam of Atlanta Community Education Center Atlanta, Ga. n/a
National Policy Institute Whitefish, Mont. $125,325
New Century Foundation Oakton, Va. $243,861
Pacific Justice Institute Sacramento, Calif. $1,984,878
Pacific Justice Institute-Center For Public Service Sacramento, Calif. $0
Pass the Salt Ministries Hebron, Ohio $90,376
Probe Ministries International Plano, Tex. $651,324
Robert Sungenis/Catholic Apologetics International Publishing State Line, Pa. $139,890
Ruth Institute San Marcos, Calif. $262,113
Samanta Roy Institute of Science and Technology Green Bay, Wis. $970,378
Servant of Jesus & Mary Constable, N.Y. $4,873,280
Sharkhunters International Hernando, Fla., $0
Tradition in Action Montebello, Calif. $231,586
Traditional Values Coalition Education and Legal Institute Anaheim, Calif. $67,728
United Families Foundation, aka United Families International Gilbert, Ariz. $0
VDARE Foundation Litchfield, Conn. $293,663

 

[BULLDOG]

When did being an atheist become grounds for tax exemption?

It's a religious belief so, as long as they comply with the requirements, they're good to go.

Tax Information for Churches and Religious Organizations

Atheism isn't a religious belief, even if you want it to be.