Taxation of churches is religious persecution

[koshergrl]

And everybody should be against it.

" Once the Supreme Court's Obergefell decision declaring a constitutional right to same-sex marriage is combined with laws banning discrimination against homosexuals — which already exist in well over a dozen states and are coming soon at the federal level — the case for eliminating religious tax exemptions could be powerful. And of course all of this will take place against a cultural backdrop of rapid secularization that could well produce a demographically driven sea change in the nation's attitudes toward churches and other religious institutions."

"But of course the First Amendment doesn't just preclude a religious establishment. It also protects religious "free exercise," and it is on those grounds that the elimination of tax exemptions for churches should be opposed by all Americans, liberal and conservative alike."

"The removal of these exemptions would be an enormously heavy burden for many, and a catastrophic burden for some. And because this harsh, painful penalty would be imposed on churches almost entirely in response to their theologically and historically founded opposition to same-sex marriage, it would be a form of state-sponsored persecution. Religious persecution."

Taxing churches is a form of religious persecution and liberals need to stand against it

 

[pillars]

Churches are social organizations that require infrastructure and services from local government, and should pay their fair share.

 

[Clementine]

At least the Christians do a lot of charity work, which would offset taxes if this oppressive administration decided to go after them.

Mosques would be a different story as they only care about their own.

 

[J.E.D]

At least the Christians do a lot of charity work, which would offset taxes if this oppressive administration decided to go after them.

Mosques would be a different story as they only care about their own.

Urine idiot

 

[mdk]

I have always been and always will be opposed to churches losing their tax exempt status.

 

[Pogo]

At least the Christians do a lot of charity work, which would offset taxes if this oppressive administration decided to go after them.

Mosques would be a different story as they only care about their own.

That's straight-out bullshit.

Over the past several weeks, a handful of predominantly black churches across the South have burned down. Some were ruled arson, others accidents — but they still recalled racist attacks against black churches throughout American history.

The church fires followed the mass shooting at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, S.C., igniting concern over the possibility of a wave of hate crimes.

Three Muslim charities have since launched a “Respond with Love” crowdfunding campaign to damaged black churches rebuild and “stand united against hate.” The Muslim Anti-Racism Collaborative, Arab American Association of New York and Ummah Wide have raised nearly $45,000 since starting the fundraiser last week.
​

The story notes $45,000 raised out of a goal of 50k; since the story that total has already doubled so the goal has been doubled to $100k.

“It’s Ramadan and we are experiencing firsthand the beauty and sanctity of our mosques during this holy month. ALL houses of worship are sanctuaries — a place where all should feel safe, a place we can seek refuge when the world is too much to bear,” campaign organizers said in a statement. “We want for others what we want for ourselves: the right to worship without intimidation, the right to safety and the right to property,” the statement also said.​

 

[koshergrl]

Churches are social organizations that require infrastructure and services from local government, and should pay their fair share.

So you're okay with religious persecution by the government. got it.

 

[BlindBoo]

Hahahaha, Looks like Koshergrl is a Gay Nazi.

 

[koshergrl]

"Are liberals really prepared to begin treating such bedrock religious tendencies — tendencies that go back to the beginnings of human culture and lie at the foundation of every civilization ever known — as beyond the bounds of acceptable thought and behavior? And to use state power to stamp them out?
"There are many words that one could use to describe the impulse to do that, but "liberal" isn't one of them."
Taxing churches is a form of religious persecution and liberals need to stand against it

 

[Skull Pilot]

Churches are social organizations that require infrastructure and services from local government, and should pay their fair share.

Churches are businesses nothing more ad should be treated as such

 

[pillars]

Churches are social organizations that require infrastructure and services from local government, and should pay their fair share.

So you're okay with religious persecution by the government. got it.

It's not religious persecution to pay for the services that you utilize.

 

[Syriusly]

I have always been and always will be opposed to churches losing their tax exempt status.

I agree.

Churches should be- and will be tax exempt.

They are not losing their tax exempt status.

 

[koshergrl]

"...April 1933 Nazi delegates began negotiations with Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, the Vatican’s delegate to Germany and the future Pope Pius XII. As these negotiations unfolded the Nazis launched a wave of anti-Catholic intimidation, shutting down Catholic publications, breaking up meetings of the Catholic-based Centre Party and throwing outspoken Catholics into concentration camps." See more at: Religion in Nazi Germany

 

[koshergrl]

Churches are social organizations that require infrastructure and services from local government, and should pay their fair share.

So you're okay with religious persecution by the government. got it.

It's not religious persecution to pay for the services that you utilize.

Yes, it is.

"Germany had around 15,000 Jehovah’s Witnesses in 1933 and their religious beliefs prevented them from swearing allegiance to government or secular powers. They also refused to submit to military conscription or to perform the Nazi one-armed salute. In April 1933 Nazi paramilitaries shut down several Jehovah’s Witness offices and buildings. By the middle of 1933 the Jehovah’s Witness religion had been officially banned in most parts of Germany. Individual Witnesses were sacked from jobs in the public and private sector; others were refused access to state welfare or pensions. They could restore these rights if they renounced their religion and pledged allegiance to the Nazi state, however very few did. The Gestapo began compiling a register of all Jehovah’s Witnesses in 1936. By 1938 several thousand had been arrested and transported to concentration camps, where they were identified by a triangular purple patch on their camp uniform."
Religion in Nazi Germany

 

[g5000]

The guy who wrote the OP article INVENTED A COMPLETELY MADE-UP SCENARIO.

Here' a clue. When someone starts their article with, "How long will it be until we begin to see...", they are making shit up! Fearmongering.

You Pavlovian dumbasses shit your pants every time some dipshit rings a bell, and you are really stinking up the place.

 

[koshergrl]

Churches are social organizations that require infrastructure and services from local government, and should pay their fair share.

Churches are businesses nothing more ad should be treated as such

Wrong.

"
In this real world, churches often operate on extremely tight margins, receiving the bulk of their income from voluntary donations, paying their pastors and staff a modest salary for endless hours of emotionally grueling and sometimes tedious work, and all the while performing a wide range of charitable acts within and often beyond the parish community. These churches benefit considerably, in many cases crucially, from tax exemptions for their income and property, and from the tax deductions permitted to those who contribute to their income through donations.
The removal of these exemptions would be an enormously heavy burden for many, and a catastrophic burden for some. And because this harsh, painful penalty would be imposed on churches almost entirely in response to their theologically and historically founded opposition to same-sex marriage, it would be a form of state-sponsored persecution. Religious persecution."

Taxing churches is a form of religious persecution and liberals need to stand against it

 

[guno]

At least the Christians do a lot of charity work, which would offset taxes if this oppressive administration decided to go after them.

Mosques would be a different story as they only care about their own.

The charity work they do are mostly for their own members on taxpayer dime , lets cut them out as the middle man

 

[koshergrl]

At least the Christians do a lot of charity work, which would offset taxes if this oppressive administration decided to go after them.

Mosques would be a different story as they only care about their own.

The charity work they do are mostly for their own members on taxpayer dime , lets cut them out as the middle man

Let's not, and instead cut you out, like a cancer.

 

[Skull Pilot]

Churches are social organizations that require infrastructure and services from local government, and should pay their fair share.

Churches are businesses nothing more ad should be treated as such

Wrong.

"
In this real world, churches often operate on extremely tight margins, receiving the bulk of their income from voluntary donations, paying their pastors and staff a modest salary for endless hours of emotionally grueling and sometimes tedious work, and all the while performing a wide range of charitable acts within and often beyond the parish community. These churches benefit considerably, in many cases crucially, from tax exemptions for their income and property, and from the tax deductions permitted to those who contribute to their income through donations.
The removal of these exemptions would be an enormously heavy burden for many, and a catastrophic burden for some. And because this harsh, painful penalty would be imposed on churches almost entirely in response to their theologically and historically founded opposition to same-sex marriage, it would be a form of state-sponsored persecution. Religious persecution."

Taxing churches is a form of religious persecution and liberals need to stand against it

Sorry but no.

Religion is big business churches are the same.

They use the public domain as much as anyone else that pays taxes. Not taxing them is giving them special treatment.

Taxing them like everyone else is not persecution.

 

[koshergrl]

Churches are social organizations that require infrastructure and services from local government, and should pay their fair share.

Churches are businesses nothing more ad should be treated as such

Wrong.

"
In this real world, churches often operate on extremely tight margins, receiving the bulk of their income from voluntary donations, paying their pastors and staff a modest salary for endless hours of emotionally grueling and sometimes tedious work, and all the while performing a wide range of charitable acts within and often beyond the parish community. These churches benefit considerably, in many cases crucially, from tax exemptions for their income and property, and from the tax deductions permitted to those who contribute to their income through donations.
The removal of these exemptions would be an enormously heavy burden for many, and a catastrophic burden for some. And because this harsh, painful penalty would be imposed on churches almost entirely in response to their theologically and historically founded opposition to same-sex marriage, it would be a form of state-sponsored persecution. Religious persecution."

Taxing churches is a form of religious persecution and liberals need to stand against it

Sorry but no.

Religion is big business churches are the same.

They use the public domain as much as anyone else that pays taxes. Not taxing them is giving them special treatment.

Taxing them like everyone else is not persecution.

I'm afraid it is.