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MelissaB

(16,420 posts)
Fri Jul 10, 2020, 12:34 PM Jul 2020

The U.S. Roman Catholic Church received at least $1.4 billion in taxpayer-backed coronavirus aid.

The U.S. Roman Catholic Church used a special and unprecedented exemption from federal rules to amass at least $1.4 billion in taxpayer-backed coronavirus aid.





AP: Catholic Church lobbied for taxpayer funds, got $1.4B

NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. Roman Catholic Church used a special and unprecedented exemption from federal rules to amass at least $1.4 billion in taxpayer-backed coronavirus aid, with many millions going to dioceses that have paid huge settlements or sought bankruptcy protection because of clergy sexual abuse cover-ups.

The church’s haul may have reached -- or even exceeded -- $3.5 billion, making a global religious institution with more than a billion followers among the biggest winners in the U.S. government’s pandemic relief efforts, an Associated Press analysis of federal data released this week found.

Houses of worship and faith-based organizations that promote religious beliefs aren’t usually eligible for money from the U.S. Small Business Administration. But as the economy plummeted and jobless rates soared, Congress let faith groups and other nonprofits tap into the Paycheck Protection Program, a $659 billion fund created to keep Main Street open and Americans employed.

By aggressively promoting the payroll program and marshaling resources to help affiliates navigate its shifting rules, Catholic dioceses, parishes, schools and other ministries have so far received approval for at least 3,500 forgivable loans, AP found.

More: https://apnews.com/dab8261c68c93f24c0bfc1876518b3f6


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The U.S. Roman Catholic Church received at least $1.4 billion in taxpayer-backed coronavirus aid. (Original Post) MelissaB Jul 2020 OP
If they don't pay taxes, LakeVermilion Jul 2020 #1
The House should be demanding a refund ASAP, wrong on so many levels. sarcasmo Jul 2020 #2
Wrong in so many ways. Time to tax churches. nt NCjack Jul 2020 #3
Sad Champp Jul 2020 #4
One of the biggest organizations BGBD Jul 2020 #5
Well, you know, the church is so poor... NameAlreadyTaken Jul 2020 #6
I just read this yesterday stillcool Jul 2020 #7
 

BGBD

(3,282 posts)
5. One of the biggest organizations
Fri Jul 10, 2020, 01:12 PM
Jul 2020

in the history of the world is getting small business loans while actual small businesses are unable to stay open because they don't have any access to cash.

I'm guessing this was similar to major chain restaurants where they were able to claim they were small businesses by registering separately instead of being considered as an organization.

Easy solution, House democrats should refuse to consider another senate bill until the money is returned.

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