There is Church tax in Germany WHATTTTTT
I don’t get it WHY
In Germany, everyone has a choice: about 9% of your tax bill is set aside either to donate to a religion or to simply go straight to the government.
If someone claims they are Catholic, but doesn't tick the box, the bishops are making a very important point: if you are going to deny that you belong to the Church at tax time, why should we believe you now that you say you are a member?
It isn't about money - since any individual's allotted contribution might be a few euros or nothing at all, depending on their taxable income.
It is about people renouncing their faith publicly, and then reclaiming it when they need something from the Church.
That is when its stops being a real church.
This line in the article is completely incorrect.
If the money is not donated it is not kept by the taxpayer.
It is kept by the government. No one is saving any money by not approving the donation.
If you opt out of church tax in Germany, you cannot do it by form.
You have to go to the parish office or to city hall to make your declaration in person.
You basically make a point of publicly declaring that you do not consider yourself to be a member and you renounce your adherence to your religion.
Read a better explanation, please (Jimmy Akin Link)
If people officially announce ---for the record, to the government --- that they have left the Catholic Church, why would they be demanding Sacraments? Is the Church legally required to offer sacraments to non-Catholics now?
Very recently FReepers were supporting that priest in the Archdiocese fo Washington who refused Holy Communion to a woman who was a practicing lesbian and Buddhist. But in this case the Catholic Church is supposed to say, "That's OK, Catholic Sacraments are a public utility now"?
The complicating factor is that in the 19th century, the German state seized a lot of buildings and property from various churches, and then instituted this form of funding as a kind of reimbursement. It's not the sort of thing that's done in the USA --- for which I'm glad, because under our Constitution it would be considered "excessive entanglement" --- but it's a voluntary collection from people who voluntarily identify as Catholics. Same for Lutherans, or whatever church they want to designate.
It's certainly no question of money. It is contrary to Canon Law to charge for a Sacrament, or deny any person a Sacrament on account of money. It is a question of having made a public rejection of Catholicism.
would Martin Luther be turning over in his grave
or. with and after Luther did German’s just switch such state-church ties from the old instiutions to the new???
curious
This article totally misrepresents the facts at hand. In order to be exempt from the German Church tax one must declare they are no longer a member of a church, whether Protestant or Catholic.
Why should the Church allow people who have lied in order to avoid the tax use the services of the Church? If you claim you are not Catholic you should not expect to get married or receive other sacraments. The Church does get financial support through these taxes.
Church members whether if it is through taxes (as in Germany) or private tithing need to support their churches. Churches have expenses too.
“It was when I got a bonus payment and realized that I could have paid myself a nice holiday alone on the amount of church tax that I was paying on it.”
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HMMMM
Another great example of why “UNKA SUGAH” wants your employer to pay HIM your witholding and FICA taxes.
Leave it to the individual and he will realize how much he is really getting screwed.
BUT in the land of ‘the great geedunk’ ‘they’ have devised a plan to take from you and then, to many, give it back and then some......which makes a good portion of the 47% Romney was referring to.....
That will not vote for him, ‘no matter what’....