General Discussion

Pakid

(478 posts)

102. Yes

Reply to Playinghardball (Original post)

Fri Jun 1, 2012, 10:54 PM

Jun 2012

Since they want to play it time to pay Lets face it religion today does more harm than good. There was a time when that was not true but since the raise of Fundamental Christianity all that was good has gone down the drain. I am sorry to say but the bad out number the good by a wide margin. One has only to look at what the Catholic Church has done to see what is wrong They pay lip service to the real teaching of Christ which are caring for the poor, disable, elderly,children etc. When it comes to birth control and abortion they sue in court and threaten to excommunicate anyone who goes against them. When it comes to the real teaching they do almost nothing (Think Ryans BS plan) and Christ to my knowledge said nothing about birth control or abortions

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Do YOU think it's time to end the tax exempt status of churches? [View all] Playinghardball Jun 2012 OP

for churches that get involved with politics....yes. spanone Jun 2012 #1

I agree. If a politician (of either party) is allowed to campaign in a church, its tax-exempt razorman Jun 2012 #8

Definitely yes. And if they give their pulpit over to politicians making speeches, Even Bigger YES! calimary Jun 2012 #15

Not to mention: deaniac21 Jun 2012 #19

But how will we know whether a church is involved in politics or even funding JDPriestly Jun 2012 #56

Make them file annual reports... raging_moderate Jun 2012 #73

I agree, as much as I hate it they all need to lose tax exempt byoung6 Jun 2012 #79

+1 canuckledragger Jun 2012 #67

Yes! LeftofObama Jun 2012 #2

Yes. n/t DLevine Jun 2012 #3

Before November? No. nt onehandle Jun 2012 #4

Zappa had iy right... DontTreadOnMe Jun 2012 #5

And The Businesses Owned By the Churches!" hifiguy Jun 2012 #24

To extend upon your point exboyfil Jun 2012 #60

Broadway the hard way!! Initech Jun 2012 #42

It was way past time a hundred years ago. n/t LadyHawkAZ Jun 2012 #6

Yes! Iggo Jun 2012 #142

YES! Tax breaks equal support and establishment. I posit that the 1st A bars tax exemption. morningfog Jun 2012 #7

I have always thought that religious exemptions discriminate against athiest. pennylane100 Jun 2012 #34

I posit that the 1st A bars tax exemption. AlbertCat Jun 2012 #50

It has always been considered a violation of the First Amendment. former9thward Jun 2012 #80

I am taxed... awoke_in_2003 Jun 2012 #94

Your income is not protected by the U.S. Constitution. former9thward Jun 2012 #95

It has nothing to do with the First Amendment jberryhill Jun 2012 #131

Absolutely! Tom Ripley Jun 2012 #71

No JVS Jun 2012 #9

Yes !!! - K & R !!! WillyT Jun 2012 #10

Yes...n/t orwell Jun 2012 #11

Don't forget that black churches are powerful Democratic vote producers. n/t cigsandcoffee Jun 2012 #12

So, you're saying these churches are political entities? progressoid Jun 2012 #23

But if all churches were taxed, that wouldn't stop. n/t Squinch Jun 2012 #33

And many black churches in North Carolina contributed to... WorseBeforeBetter Jun 2012 #58

It is WAY beyond time that they pay taxes... truebrit71 Jun 2012 #13

We can't -- not without eliminating the tax exemption for other non-profits. pnwmom Jun 2012 #14

Sad to hear that - BUT BUT BUT truedelphi Jun 2012 #48

I think the rules is that Churches are free to campaign on the issues, pnwmom Jun 2012 #113

But then an individual would have to say - just why truedelphi Jun 2012 #148

Good question. n/t pnwmom Jun 2012 #161

I have not heard of "isolated incidents" dems_rightnow Jun 2012 #176

IRS went in and examined Church records, and denied truedelphi Jun 2012 #184

"...'moral or mental improvement,'..." OriginalGeek Jun 2012 #112

I don't believe that's what this decision says Major Nikon Jun 2012 #166

Maybe. But I got this from the Freedom From Religion Foundation -- not some religious group. n/t pnwmom Jun 2012 #167

It's a landmark decision Major Nikon Jun 2012 #169

It also means that you can't treat religious non-profits differently than other non-profits. n/t pnwmom Jun 2012 #170

Only as the current law is written Major Nikon Jun 2012 #171

So we start lobbying congress. daaron Jun 2012 #172

I agree Major Nikon Jun 2012 #174

If Congress rewrote the law and struck the word religious, they would be discriminating pnwmom Jun 2012 #175

Maybe it wouldn't stand. daaron Jun 2012 #177

As I said, striking the religious exemption in the tax code doesn't discriminate Major Nikon Jun 2012 #180

Church buildings, as opposed to school or other buildings, are different. pnwmom Jun 2012 #182

I'm not sure who holds that view Major Nikon Jun 2012 #183

Yes. And, the believers should find a deity that isn't broke all the time. Tierra_y_Libertad Jun 2012 #16

Heh. Heh. truedelphi Jun 2012 #49

Thanks for the laugh. AnotherMcIntosh Jun 2012 #145

Yes..... Swede Atlanta Jun 2012 #17

Yes. HopeHoops Jun 2012 #18

Conditionally, Yes! Plus, amend the parsonage exemption! longship Jun 2012 #20

Yes. alfredo Jun 2012 #29

Yes. And THIS ^^^^ nt daaron Jun 2012 #99

YES! marsis Jun 2012 #21

Post removed Post removed Jun 2012 #22

Do you have an actual argument to make or is all you have petty insults? white_wolf Jun 2012 #26

why even allow religion in the first place? ileus Jun 2012 #25

Double the minimum they have to use for Charitable work, and alfredo Jun 2012 #27

Yes. byeya Jun 2012 #28

Will that allow them to use the pulpit and the collection plates for campaigning? n/t cynatnite Jun 2012 #30

That would be my first concern as well. Excellent question. Adsos Letter Jun 2012 #152

Absolutely. No politician will touch it though WhollyHeretic Jun 2012 #31

She's right. Egalitarian Thug Jun 2012 #32

Defninitely "yes." Doc Holliday Jun 2012 #35

Nope. Separation of church and state is a fundamental principle. malthaussen Jun 2012 #36

It has nothing to do with that jberryhill Jun 2012 #132

Remember that any tax exemption = a tax burden for someone else Major Nikon Jun 2012 #37

I could go with this eaglesfanintn Jun 2012 #62

Not far from where I live, Ken Copeland has a lakefront mansion, private jets, and his own airport Major Nikon Jun 2012 #68

Every fair-minded, honest, thinking person would back such an idea. Marr Jun 2012 #38

No badtoworse Jun 2012 #39

Wow, thanks for the informative post. I am convinced! Logical Jun 2012 #189

YES, this should be a POLL! Logical Jun 2012 #190

"Do YOU think it's time to end the tax exempt status of churches?" Eugenian Jun 2012 #40

Yes get the red out Jun 2012 #41

Yes...eom Magoo48 Jun 2012 #43

Time to tax them RoccoR5955 Jun 2012 #44

Absolutly ! penndragon69 Jun 2012 #45

Actually rrHeretic Jun 2012 #46

That's not a bad idea. nt DocMac Jun 2012 #78

Great idea! n/t truedelphi Jun 2012 #150

Admit it or not, rvt1000rr Jun 2012 #47

churches are businesses. AlbertCat Jun 2012 #55

I am not sure edhopper Jun 2012 #51

Yes n/t Lebam in LA Jun 2012 #52

Absolutely amuse bouche Jun 2012 #53

The reason they were exempt in the first place... Scootaloo Jun 2012 #54

The Revenue Act of 1954 Riftaxe Jun 2012 #83

I have always thought that religious organizations should not be tax exempt. n/t RebelOne Jun 2012 #57

YES...time was a while ago... Tikki Jun 2012 #59

For investments and property not related to actual worship, yes. Auggie Jun 2012 #61

Anne Rice is speaking, in part, in response to the role religion played Ken Burch Jun 2012 #63

Catholicism has to be one of the weirdest cults out there. And truedelphi Jun 2012 #185

NOPE... once you do, you destroy our Separation Between Church and State fascisthunter Jun 2012 #64

you destroy our Separation Between Church and State AlbertCat Jun 2012 #88

by taxing them, you give them the RIGHT to influence our government fascisthunter Jun 2012 #139

How????? elzenmahn Jun 2012 #155

Excuse me, we as individuals pay taxes Ken Burch Jun 2012 #188

Agreed, for those churches involved in politics. Ken Burch Jun 2012 #65

Right after the Bush cuts and billionaire exemptions are repealed. rug Jun 2012 #66

AND corporations' tax loopholes are eliminated. FailureToCommunicate Jun 2012 #133

Do YOU think it's time to end the tax exempt status of churches? raisedcatholicvet Jun 2012 #69

Welcome to DU. Skinner Jun 2012 #77

They never should have had that dodge in the first place Tom Ripley Jun 2012 #70

Ummm, hell YES! Nt onlyadream Jun 2012 #72

Yup! Plucketeer Jun 2012 #74

YES!! Jake2413 Jun 2012 #75

Yes - with no qualifiers. nt TBF Jun 2012 #76

Yes. DemocratsForProgress Jun 2012 #81

Well past time HarveyDarkey Jun 2012 #82

Long Overdue! LibGranny Jun 2012 #84

No, the power to tax is the power to destroy. If you tax a church, it is destroyed. Zalatix Jun 2012 #85

Either tax them... MrMickeysMom Jun 2012 #86

If you thought they were powerful now, tax them and they'll become massively humblebum Jun 2012 #105

Oh, I dunno... MrMickeysMom Jun 2012 #106

You tax the churches and they will be able to say and do anything they so please humblebum Jun 2012 #117

I'm talking about ALL non-profits... not just churches MrMickeysMom Jun 2012 #163

This country would crumble without non-profits.nt humblebum Jun 2012 #164

That depends on how you define them... MrMickeysMom Jun 2012 #168

+ 1000 hughee99 Jun 2012 #143

Nnnnnope. cherokeeprogressive Jun 2012 #87

Ummmm...... Coyote_Bandit Jun 2012 #89

Surprised at Anne Rice quote. philly_bob Jun 2012 #90

I believe she left the church again OriginalGeek Jun 2012 #116

If they want to play then they should have to pay!! Historic NY Jun 2012 #91

Yes, all of them... awoke_in_2003 Jun 2012 #92

Yep. lonestarnot Jun 2012 #93

yes larwdem Jun 2012 #96

Yes! n/t NRaleighLiberal Jun 2012 #97

Yes.... FarPoint Jun 2012 #98

They can be tax exempt if they give all their money to the poor Rosa Luxemburg Jun 2012 #100

yes ibegurpard Jun 2012 #101

Yes Pakid Jun 2012 #102

As long as the phrase, In God We Trust, is on our money, underseasurveyor Jun 2012 #103

Yes Yes Yes NOIBN Jun 2012 #104

Yes and no The Second Stone Jun 2012 #107

Yep!!! WCGreen Jun 2012 #108

Yes. The abuses have gone way beyond enforceability. Zorra Jun 2012 #109

Sliding scale - it depends on the amt of REAL charity work they do. alittlelark Jun 2012 #110

Fully tax them obxhead Jun 2012 #128

Exactly. alittlelark Jun 2012 #140

I've been saying this since the Reagan ohheckyeah Jun 2012 #111

Should have been done when the unions were forced to pay taxes. Hubert Flottz Jun 2012 #114

End it. Religion is just another business. n/t D23MIURG23 Jun 2012 #115

Yes, of course. chollybocker Jun 2012 #118

Not necessarily. It depends on the church - lynne Jun 2012 #119

Have NEVER thought that made any sense southerncrone Jun 2012 #120

Yes. Just yes. eom BlueMTexpat Jun 2012 #121

Of course. Churches are moneymaking enterprises. SunSeeker Jun 2012 #122

Why should those who are not members of the cult have to subsidize those who are? dinopipie Jun 2012 #123

+ my household. n/t truedelphi Jun 2012 #151

Yes. (nt) harmonicon Jun 2012 #124

Absolutely. Vinca Jun 2012 #125

another ridiculous fantasy post cali Jun 2012 #126

I'm inclined to say "no" KansDem Jun 2012 #127

But now you get into Free Speech issues... elzenmahn Jun 2012 #158

"Separation of church and state" KansDem Jun 2012 #181

Waaaay past time cbrer Jun 2012 #129

Ahhh Taxes.... The only part of, separation FLSurfer Jun 2012 #130

If you tax churches, you unequivocally give them the right to become politically involved. ColesCountyDem Jun 2012 #134

A resounding YES. 99Forever Jun 2012 #135

Yes, absolutely. I think it's appalling that churches are tax exempt. nt BlueIris Jun 2012 #136

tax them mcgarry50 Jun 2012 #137

Yes, and you can take it one step further. End churches. nt valerief Jun 2012 #138

Long past time. Iggo Jun 2012 #141

Yes. shcrane71 Jun 2012 #144

The tax exempt status of the churches... citizen blues Jun 2012 #146

Right on...... except for that it's completely wrong. dems_rightnow Jun 2012 #179

I think the point about 501c3's is a good one. I think your singling out of Catholics is a bad one. HiPointDem Jun 2012 #194

YES. Absolutely. Retroactively. NAO Jun 2012 #147

I am for separation of church and state felix_numinous Jun 2012 #149

Only for commercial church property KamaAina Jun 2012 #153

K&R... elzenmahn Jun 2012 #154

They have been completely out of control lately. If they want to preach politics they pay. Initech Jun 2012 #156

No RB TexLa Jun 2012 #157

I think some revisions or updates to the law jp11 Jun 2012 #159

There are already rules in place about political activity that apply to all non-profit orgs. NYC Liberal Jun 2012 #160

Yes Yes Yes YES!!!!!!!!!! mzteris Jun 2012 #162

the right already has far too many wedge issues to use against progressive forces. We don't need any Douglas Carpenter Jun 2012 #165

No. The RW fundies are a cornered critter. daaron Jun 2012 #173

The vast majority of churches, synagogues, mosques and temples are not right-wing fundamentlist. Douglas Carpenter Jun 2012 #186

Call it a shot across the bow, if it makes you feel better. daaron Jun 2012 #191

the better suggestion is to build brideges at every opportunity with progressive religious people Douglas Carpenter Jun 2012 #192

Douglas Bohunk68 Jun 2012 #193

I see no reason why both approaches can't be used at the same time. daaron Jun 2012 #196

Should have been taken away a long time ago NotThisTime Jun 2012 #178

Yes! sarcasmo Jun 2012 #187

Logically, maybe. Politically, absolutely not. onenote Jun 2012 #195