The Panic Over Churches' Tax-Exempt Status in a Gay-Married World

[cbayer]

http://religiondispatches.org/the-panic-over-churches-tax-exempt-status-in-a-gay-married-world/

BY SARAH POSNER MAY 10, 2015

A new worry in conservative circles has slowly gathered steam since the Supreme Court heard arguments in Obergefell v. Hodges, on whether the Constitution requires states to issue marriage licenses to and recognize the out-of-state marriages of same-sex couples. During oral arguments, Justice Samuel Alito asked Solicitor General Donald Verrilli whether the tax-exempt status of religious colleges and universities who opposed same-sex marriage would be in jeopardy should the Court hold for the plaintiffs. Verrilli hedged, saying he’d have to know more details to answer the question, but conceded that that it would “be an an issue.” That was enough for conservatives to start raising alarm bells about the Internal Revenue Service (which they already hate) yanking the tax exemption of religious organizations and churches who oppose same-sex marriage.

Travis Weber, director of the Family Research Council’s Center for Religious Liberty, told Fox News’ Shannon Bream that “he believed Verrilli’s logic would eventually extend to churches and just about ‘anyone holding a traditional view of marriage.'”

The American Family Association’s One News Now claimed that “Christian colleges and universities would be forced to decide between compromising their biblical beliefs and surviving financially,” and that churches and other institutions could be forced to shutter as well, because losing the tax exemption would spell financial ruin.

“Religious non-profits, Plan Now for Tax-Exemption Battles,” warned The Federalist.

more at link

[rjsquirrel]

1. Good

The tax exemption for people who like fairy take stories better than science is an utter anachronism.

[cbayer]

3. I am afraid that you totally missed the point here, but you did a great

job of repeating the trite party line and insulting religious believers all in one short sentence. Bravo and welcome to the religion group!

This has nothing at all to do with people who "like fairy take (sic) stories better than science". It has to do with those colleges and universities that might oppose same-sex marriage and discriminate based on that.

And if you are interested enough to read the article, you will see that it is unlikely to be an issue with the IRS at all.

Now, if you are interested in understanding more about the tax status of religious organizations, there are some threads that I can link you to that discuss this. In short, the tax exempt status that is applied to religious groups is the same status that is applied to any non-profit. To remove it, as you seem to endorse, would be a 1st amendment violation and a very, very slippery slope.

[AtheistCrusader]

7. Can you name a college that DOESN'T believe in fake fairy tales, that would discriminate so?

I got all day, take your time.

[yeoman6987]

5. The Cathilic church won't have a problem

They don't marry some who are divorced. I don't think they will be forced to marry anybody.

[cbayer]

6. This issue is not about having to marry anyone.

It is already established law that religious groups can decide who they marry and who they don't.

It's about tax status if they discriminate against GLBT people who are married.

[Renew Deal]

2. This doesn't make sense

Religious institutions already choose who they want to marry. There is nothing illegal about their choices as it stands right now.

As employers, I'm not sure what their obligations would be to same sex employee families. They should be forced to provide benefits to all legal families no matter the make up. I guess providing health insurance to their employees partner is too much for them to handle. I say too bad.

[cbayer]

4. As she concludes, there really isn't an issue here.

It's much ado about nothing, unless these colleges and universities want to make it one.