Posted on 10/12/2006 10:09:23 AM PDT by freemarket_kenshepherd
The New York Times has put an ironic twist on the 8th Commandment: “Thou shalt not steal.” It’s accused churches nationwide of fleecing taxpayers and local governments using the First Amendment.
The Times devoted more than 17,000 words and a four-day series indicting religious groups for what it argued was essentially cheating taxpayers across the country. The pro-government, pro-regulation treatise by business reporter Diana B. Henriques was titled "In God's Name."
Churches “enjoy an abundance of exemptions from regulations and taxes” and the result is “religious organizations of all faiths stand in a position that American businesses – and the thousands of nonprofit groups without that ‘religious’ label – can only envy,” wrote Henriques. But she wasn’t suggesting businesses and nonprofits should enjoy fewer regulations or taxes. On the contrary, the story series lobbied for more government control over religious organizations.
Henriques stated that “tax breaks are widely defended both as an acknowledgement of religion’s contributions to society and as a barrier to unjustified government limitations.” Her articles didn’t explore that defense; rather, they blamed religious organizations for burdening local governments and the churches’ neighbors – taxpayers. She referred to religious groups as a “cost” to government or other citizens 11 times.
In a country where 92 percent say they believe in God or a higher power, according to a recent Baylor University study, Henriques never mentioned that members of all the religious organizations would also be taxpayers – the same people who support their communities’ public services with their hard-earned dollars. Instead, her portrayal indicated congregations were mooching off the rest of their communities:
(Excerpt) Read more at businessandmedia.org ...
And I know that the next time Hillary and/or other demosocialist pols go pandering for the black vote at their churches and give their campaign speech from the pulpit the NYT is going to run a front page, above the fold complaining about separation of church and state!
>Churches “enjoy an abundance of exemptions from regulations and taxes” and the result is “religious organizations of all faiths stand in a position that American businesses – and the thousands of nonprofit groups without that ‘religious’ label – can only envy,”
Entirely true.
> In a country where 92 percent say they believe in God or a higher power, according to a recent Baylor University study, Henriques never mentioned that members of all the religious organizations would also be taxpayers
Entirely irrelevant.
If churches are tax exempt, why not gun shops or book stores or internet providers or newspapers or Union organizers or lobbyists?
Kevin Boyer, a spokesman for Chicago Games Inc., the local non-profit that staged the event, said there is little chance the Chicago Games won't at least break even. He acknowledged that some bills have been paid a bit slowly but insisted there will be no financial losers when the final tally is done.
So, does the New York Times object to this? Nope. Our tax dollars should support the Gay Games, but not churches? Charming. (NOT)
Underlying most of the liberals' hatred for conservatism is their hatred for religion and God. I've known this for years. Most of the liberal agenda is an anti-religious one, abortion, homosexual 'rights', legalized lewdness and pornography..... all of these things fly in the face of Christianity and orthodox Judaism. What religion would deny the liberals, they seek to obtain through government policy. And if they can use the government to suppress religion, all the better for them.
The authors do a good job in pointing out how absurd this lady's arguments are, and what a nut she is.
Universities, colleges, and other non-profit organizations enjoy the same tax breaks.
" • “These organizations and their leaders still rely on public services – police and fire protection, street lights and storm drains, highway and bridge maintenance, food and drug inspections, national defense. But their tax exemptions shift the cost of providing those benefits onto other citizens. The total cost nationwide is not known, because no one keeps track.”
THE POWER TO TAX IS THE POWER TO DESTROY!!! TAXING CHURCHES IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IDEA!!
Ummm, don't hold your breath...
I don't think churches should be tax-exempt either. Not only has it resulted in their avoiding certain political activities as one means of expressing their faith, but it has also make nearly all churches (and other types of religious groups) utterly sheeplike when it comes to the ever-expanding socialist tax-and-spend government. Tell the churches they have to pay income tax on all the contributions they receive, and only get deductions for things the IRS approves of, and you'd get a tidal wave of "Cut taxes now!" preaching from pulpits across the land. That could only be beneficial.
Please explain why Cindy Sheehan and the ACLU enjoy 501(c)(3) status.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1
With a $200,000 budget shortfall on an event organizers predicted would at least break even, everything must go.
By shedding these assets and soliciting donations, organizers who ran the Games on a $10 million cash budget say they will get back to zero or maybe even generate a slight surplus by the spring.
Either way, Gay Games leaders say they have proved the event doesn't need to be the notorious money loser it has been in recent years.
Kevin Boyer, a spokesman for Chicago Games Inc., the local non-profit that staged the event, said there is little chance the Chicago Games won't at least break even.
"Personal I believe that churches should not be tax exempt. The exemptions helps keep the churches under the thumb of the government. Keeps them out of the political arena."
Taxing would kill most small churches and it would give the govt more power than they have now.
The government generally has no interest in destroying run of the mill taxpayers. Why would they kill their golden goose? I am concerned about giving the government the ability to destroy institutions and religious expression through taxation. I am not worried about Bush and this Congress, but future leaders.
> Taxing would kill most small churches ...
I don't really see how. What does a church need besides a Bible and someone who can read it?
> It takes only ten tithing adults to support the lead pastor
I'd argue that. That would provide for the pastor the same income as those ten people (average, anyway). But... can't he hold down a job like anyone else? They are *all* in Church on Sunday at the same time, so that's not an excuse.
He can flip burgers or weild a scalpel or type away on a computer just like anybody else.
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