General Discussion

Thor_MN

(11,843 posts)

48. Churches are media outlets, with virtually no laws

Reply to Playinghardball (Original post)

Sat Jan 11, 2014, 08:57 AM

Jan 2014

When they start broadcasting, I think they are no different than any other television or radio entertainment and should be taxed as such. Property taxes pay for local services which churches consume and should be assessed. Church employees should (and may, I have no idea) pay income tax. The church itself should be able to offset income by the cost of charitable work (even though though it's "double deductioning" as the money comes from charitable donation) but pay taxes on everything else.

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These prople pay taxes on the dilapidated house... [View all] Playinghardball Jan 2014 OP

Word. Iggo Jan 2014 #1

K&R. I absolutely agree. MineralMan Jan 2014 #2

+1 lsewpershad Jan 2014 #56

kr Warren Stupidity Jan 2014 #3

I want to agree CFLDem Jan 2014 #4

You mean like giving special dispensation to people who want to ignore the law that offers birth jtuck004 Jan 2014 #5

If they are church employees CFLDem Jan 2014 #7

Not talking about when they are handing out crackers and wine... jtuck004 Jan 2014 #14

Agreed CFLDem Jan 2014 #17

It has nothing to do with the First Amendment jberryhill Jan 2014 #8

Touch� CFLDem Jan 2014 #9

Great post dbackjon Jan 2014 #11

Newspapers don't pay taxes if they're nonprofits. But there are better answers to this problem. Liberty Belle Jan 2014 #29

I wasn't taking a position jberryhill Jan 2014 #30

+ a shit load......nt Enthusiast Jan 2014 #40

I think this is a non point. Half-Century Man Jan 2014 #12

Anything taxed is under govt control? Merlot Jan 2014 #15

Well CFLDem Jan 2014 #19

And I prefer dbackjon Jan 2014 #32

Of course it doesn't happen. CFLDem Jan 2014 #46

The power to tax, is the power to destroy. happyslug Jan 2014 #25

I don't see a First Amendment issue here. Curmudgeoness Jan 2014 #27

I would agree with that scheme. CFLDem Jan 2014 #47

Since humans are very social creatures, Curmudgeoness Jan 2014 #59

Taxing something does NOT mean the state controls it. fasttense Jan 2014 #38

The government wouldn't seek to control, Enthusiast Jan 2014 #39

Perhaps......... mrmpa Jan 2014 #44

actually it is the opposite dsc Jan 2014 #49

I agree, but tax church-owned property that is not the church or church school 7962 Jan 2014 #55

I see that Mormon cathedrial every time I go by UCSD. haele Jan 2014 #6

I'd much rather focus FIRST on getting the 1% and corporations to pay their fair share. Gidney N Cloyd Jan 2014 #10

I think I'd agree with that. kjones Jan 2014 #35

I agree, but only if religion stays out of politics. Enthusiast Jan 2014 #41

But in some cases the church is the 1% Bluenorthwest Jan 2014 #43

Jefferson and Madison thought they should pay taxes. hobbit709 Jan 2014 #13

Jesus said onethatcares Jan 2014 #20

Please cite, modern real estate taxes are a product of the late 1800s.... happyslug Jan 2014 #24

You need to check out the suburbs of most wealthy southern cities dbackjon Jan 2014 #33

Agree! n/t Paper Roses Jan 2014 #16

Do the people in the first house pay real estate taxes on that home? happyslug Jan 2014 #18

If they live in PA, they do. Curmudgeoness Jan 2014 #28

Pennsylvania adopted the Homestead exemption in 1998. happyslug Jan 2014 #34

Are you saying that some localities in PA Curmudgeoness Jan 2014 #57

Homestead exemptions are limited as to amounts happyslug Jan 2014 #62

Fine, let God pick one as his primary residence jberryhill Jan 2014 #31

I agree! nt arthritisR_US Jan 2014 #21

Any time a person, corporation, or other entity passiveporcupine Jan 2014 #22

in chicago, they also get free water. mopinko Jan 2014 #23

Any entity that benefits from the roads, schools, fire departments, logosoco Jan 2014 #26

+1 a whole bunch.......nt Enthusiast Jan 2014 #42

K&R.... daleanime Jan 2014 #36

I disagree. They shouldn't be taxed but they should be regulated. Live and Learn Jan 2014 #37

RCC owns about 177 million acres of real estate world wide, including very high end prime commercial Bluenorthwest Jan 2014 #45

Churches are media outlets, with virtually no laws Thor_MN Jan 2014 #48

Some churches benefit a community, some do not. Festivito Jan 2014 #50

Really... I count 14 steeples INdemo Jan 2014 #51

Do you really? philosslayer Jan 2014 #63

The tax-exempt loophole is a big reason there's so much religious craziness in America. reformist2 Jan 2014 #52

What sayeth the leaders... Historic NY Jan 2014 #53

Spot on. Stryder Jan 2014 #54

Personally... 99Forever Jan 2014 #58

big part of the french revolution. pansypoo53219 Jan 2014 #60

Yes, we need to start taxing all non-profit organizations! n/t hughee99 Jan 2014 #61