Posted on 05/01/2015 4:59:44 AM PDT by marshmallow
With seven words—“It is going to be an issue”—the U.S. government signaled to orthodox Christian colleges and universities that if they don’t drop their opposition to same-sex marriage they will lose their tax exempt status.
Those words came yesterday when the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Obergefell v. Hodges, a case concerning whether the Fourteenth Amendment’s must guarantee the right for same-sex couples to marry. While the primary issue is whether gay marriage will be required in every state in the union, one exchange highlighted how the upcoming ruling could affect religious liberty. Justice Samuel Alito asked Solicitor General Donald Verrilli how it would affect educational institution that opposed same-sex marriage:
JUSTICE ALITO: Well, in the Bob Jones case, the Court held that a college was not entitled to tax exempt status if it opposed interracial marriage or interracial dating. So would the same apply to a university or a college if it opposed same-sex marriage?
GENERAL VERRILLI: You know, I…I don’t think I can answer that question without knowing more specifics, but it’s certainly going to be an issue. I…I don’t deny that. I don’t deny that, Justice Alito. It is … it is going to be an issue.
In the case of Bob Jones University (Bob Jones University v. United States (1983)), the Supreme Court ruled that the religion clauses of the First Amendment did not prohibit the IRS from revoking the tax exempt status of a religious university whose practices are contrary to a compelling government public policy.
The policy at Bob Jones was indeed loathsome and contrary to Scripture, which the school later admitted when it apologized for it’s racist past. But opposition to same-sex marriage is not the same as racial animus. Yet the government, through it’s representative, has now signaled that Christians schools may.......
(Excerpt) Read more at blog.acton.org ...
They want to eradicate home schooling as well. Bob
Seriously, who wouldn’t want to take home one of those fellows?
Can they tie things up in the courts until Cruz is elected? I know he wont have unlimited powers once elected (although obummer seems to) but I’m sure he will be able to do something. Especially if congress stays republican.
Dear Christian schools, churches, individuals, etc.
It’s best to get out of the government money business, anyway. It was a known risk to take ‘faith based initiative’ money under Bush, and it’s a known risk to rely on any money in any way from the government.
Suppose Cruz gets elected, Ginsburg resigns to make sure Obama gets to appoint her replacement, and Obama appoints a leftist. If Congress failed to confirm that leftist until Cruz was in office, would that nomination go away and Cruz then gets to appoint her replacement?
‘Cause you know as soon as Cruz is elected, Ginsburg would resign, effective once her replacement is confirmed.
Soon:
“How Christians put the Government out of business”
If Catholic churches refuse the Eucharist to Methodists and muslims isn’t it discriminating against creed?
Religious schools could limit themselves to only members of the church supporting them, thus limiting enrollment to those who agree doctrinally.
Religious schools could devolve into home schooling co-ops centered at the church and attending those facilities but no longer officially a non-profit, but require membership to be part of that faith to use the facility.
The faithful could rise up and keep paying to keep the religious schools going, regardless of the loss of non-profit status.
As the Fed accumulates more and more power, it becomes increasingly critical as to who is in control. And there is the larger problem. FedGov has too much control over our lives. A centralized government has too much control.
The Federal government won't return to the concept of "federalism", until it has to do so. It won't do so until it collapses under its own weight. We're not there yet, but every year we inch closer to critical mass. No revolution will be required. No war. The whole thing will implode on its own.
I’m not savvy enough to have thought about that. Or savvy enough to answer your question. But dems got rid of Bork and I think someone else based on nonsense, so if Repubs played hardball they could pressure a nominee to pull their nomination based on some past perceived wrong. .
the feds and state have woven themselves tightly around every citizen and activity
property taxes will put many churches out of business
no catholic hospitals eligible for federal grants or reimbursement for treating patients on medicare or obamacare care or Medicaid
no catholic and other college students could use federal-backed loans (which obama now owns) to attend
the gaystapo has proven adept at financially ruining anyone who does not participate in sacramental sodomy,
Thank you for posting this article.
I hope if it comes to this, that Christians will not go meekly like sheep to the slaughter. It is way past the time to resist.
Ping
Classify your donations to your church as "gifts" so they can too.
That exempts $20,000 per year per person.
Craig Parshall, who presented arguments against “gay marriage” to the SCOTUS, says that it is past time for civil disobedience on a massive scale.
For example, the bakers in Oregon should refuse to pay the settlement. There is a battery of lawyers waiting to defend them gratis.
Christian business MUST NOT FOLD to the demands of the gaystapo, and should hold their ground.
If the gay activists pursue, the courts would be choked with these lawsuits, bringing the justice system to its knees.
Churches and religious organizations should continue to refuse to hire gays and fire them when they are discovered.
The Christian population in general should continue to support these organizations, regardless of the loss of tax exempt status.
Let the endless round of lawsuits begin.
Let the civil disobedience begin.
There are WAY more of us than there are of them.
Let’s see how long they’re willing to engage in this struggle.
The Federal Government is going to put us all out of business.
I wouldn’t worry about the 150,000,000 who are currently dependent on the federal government. I am sure when the time comes they will step right up and embrace individual responsibility.
ping
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