Even they know this to be true. Which is why this is their cartoon depiction of themselves ...
Posted on 06/29/2015 5:02:53 AM PDT by Servant of the Cross
For years conservatives and proponents of religious liberty in America have warned that if same-sex marriage became legal, the left would then pursue revoking the tax exempt status for religious institutions, particularly Christian churches, around the country.
Just days after the Supreme Court ruled in a 5-4 decision that gay marriage is a constitutional right, progressive activists like Mark Oppenheimer of the New York Times are calling for tax exempt statutes to be stripped.
The Supreme Court's ruling on gay marriage makes it clearer than ever that the government shouldn't be subsidizing religion and non-profits.
Rather than try to rescue tax-exempt status for organizations that dissent from settled public policy on matters of race or sexuality, we need to take a more radical step. It’s time to abolish, or greatly diminish, their tax-exempt statuses.
Defenders of tax exemptions and deductions argues that if we got rid of them charitable giving would drop. It surely would, although how much, we can’t say. But of course government revenue would go up, and that money could be used to, say, house the homeless and feed the hungry. We’d have fewer church soup kitchens — but countries that truly care about poverty don’t rely on churches to run soup kitchens.
So yes, the logic of gay-marriage rights could lead to a reexamination of conservative churches’ tax exemptions (although, as long as the IRS is afraid of challenging Scientology’s exemption, everyone else is probably safe). But when that day comes, it will be long overdue. I can see keeping some exemptions; hospitals, in particular, are an indispensable, and noncontroversial, public good. And localities could always carve out sensible property-tax exceptions for nonprofits their communities need. But it’s time for most nonprofits, like those of us who faithfully cut checks to them, to pay their fair share.
Incredible.
The left will claim they aren't singling out religious institutions through their calls for the revocation of tax exempt statuses because they include non-profits, but the fact is that a majority of non-profits in the country are religious. The Salvation Army, which truly helps the homeless and addicted clean up their lives and get off the streets, is one example.
Meanwhile, the ACLU said over the weekend it will no longer defend the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which was signed into law by President Bill Clinton in the 1990s after a unanimous vote in the Senate.
Although Justice Kennedy did carve out an exception for religious liberty in his opinion on same-sex marriage last week, it won't be enough to protect it going forward.
"Finally, it must be emphasized that religions, and those who adhere to religious doctrines, may continue to advocate with utmost, sincere conviction that, by divine precepts, same-sex marriage should not be condoned. The First Amendment ensures that religious organizations and persons are given proper protection as they seek to teach the principles that are so fulfilling and so central to their lives and faiths, and to their own deep aspirations to continue the family structure they have long revered. The same is true of those who oppose same-sex marriage for other reasons. In turn, those who believe allowing same-sex marriage is proper or indeed essential, whether as a matter of religious conviction or secular belief, may engage those who disagree with their view in an open and searching debate. The Constitution, however, does not permit the State to bar same-sex couples from marriage on the same terms as accorded to couples of the opposite sex," Kennedy said in the opinion.
Religious liberty is under attack in America and the next five years will serve as a battleground to protect or destroy it. If religious liberty is in fact destroyed, America will no longer hold onto one of the most important principles that makes it an exceptional nation more tolerant than the rest in the world. We are at a tipping point.
Exactly. If marriage is on a par with free speech and religion as a fundamental right, then the government has no authority to require anyone to get a license to get married. Effectively then, anyone can marry anyone.
The next steps will be to boldly, but with love, continue to proclaim the truth and live according to our Christian as long as we can. I expect to eventually be jailed for doing so.
Thirdly, keeping a calm head and control of one's emotions (!!) will help a lot too. Trust in God; He is in control.
Exactly. This is not a role of the government. If anything, government's sole role is to make it easier for charitable organizations to perform their services, not shut them down.
There are so many ways around this. Fedzilla licenses your marriage in terms of state and federal contractual law.
Anyone can officiate marriage ceremony and it needn't be held in a church structure. The couple is making the vow before God in the presence of friends and family. It could be done in a hotel, at a park, at a home - anywhere. If Fedzilla decides to come in and strong arm that kind of arrangement, we will be truly sold down the river.
Liberals are insane. Homosexuals are the most insane of liberals. They will not be content to know that there is any group of people who frown upon their abominable lifestyle. They will keep attacking us until Christianity is outlawed. Either we stand for ourselves now, or there will be nothing left to stand for.
The Bill of Rights lists our “God given” and “inalienable” rights, none of which requires a license to exercise on their most basic level. Anything which requires a license is a “privilege” (driving, concealed carry, etc.).
Even they know this to be true. Which is why this is their cartoon depiction of themselves ...
A new version of “The Prussian Union” rears its disgustingly UGLY head.
SARC:
Oh, what to do? What to do?
/SARC
Such speech will be made legally hate speech. Ministers will be sued and jailed. Church property will be seized IMO. Unless the people rise up and throw off the yoke of an oppressive central government, dark days are coming.
Maybe the leftists need to be reminded about separation of church and state. The goberment is dictating to the church on this matter.
That’s actually a profound legal thought, P-M. Since this is a ‘freedom’ on par with the first amendment, and in fact, it apparently will trump the religious protections of the first amendment, who is the government to even dare to ‘license’ a FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT.
What other ‘fundamental rights’ do they require a license for? Not guns...they tried and failed. Not speech...although they’d sure like to.
Have they succeeded a bit with ‘petition and assembly’?
“Good.
Let the government strip the tax provision from the churches. The churches will be freed from the onerous silencing of pastors and clergy. The pulpit is a strong voice for change and always has been, so restoring the freedom to challenge the all encompassing power of the state is the beginning of change for the better.
Calling people to a higher purpose and repentance outweighs any monetary gain from obeying a state imposed restriction for obedience to a tax statute”...
Make no mistake, though. If pastors and clergy continued to speak out even after giving up tax exempt status, the brown shirts would be at the door, like salivating wolves. The goal of all that we saw last week was to, No. 1, enslave the American people, and No. 2, to cleanse America of Christianity, and, of her history. Now, some believe a new world order will be the replacement. That remains to be seen after what happens in the next year and a half. One thing seems sure, there will be no peace here because of the enemies within.
It is quite clear that this is the ultimate agenda. They have been deliberate. First, they came for the bakers. And then the florists. Next, it will be the pastors/priests. And ultimately Christianity itself.
Offering plate money is not exempt because of IRS law. It is untouchable because of the first amendment.
There is a legal case that can be made for ‘deductions’, but there isn’t a constitutional case that can be made for donations to God. That belongs to God. Therefore, it is entirely outside the realm of government.
If an oriental Buddhist leave a basket of food before an idol of Buddha, does the government get 2 of the bananas and 3 of the apples?
Agreed. But one thing the church has been negligent in doing: marking those churches outside of the Christian faith by approving such marriages. Delegitimize them similar to the pronouncement that happened immediately after the ruling.
What is this first amendment you speak of? Language and law are now merely tools in the hands of the oppressor. The courts are corrupted and can craft language to legitimize any offense committed by the dictatorship of the US government.
It will FREE them to take political stands and make the church a force to be reckoned with again.
If there’s no 1st Amendment in their world, slam them in jail for this idiocy. See how they like it.
They don’t need “tax exempt” 501c3 listing in the first place to be tax exempt. They never were subject to it in the first place and getting it makes them contractual subjects of Nanny G with all the baggage that entails.
Besides, church is supposed to be about God, and accepting his Son, not building a religious empire while trying to game Ceasars revenue system...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.