Posted on 01/12/2005 2:17:13 PM PST by Rakkasan1
Citing concerns about the poor and vulnerable in Minnesota in light of a state budget deficit, Minnesota’s Catholic Bishops are calling for an increase in state income taxes.
In their recently released Pastoral Statement, Sharing Our Blessings and Our Burdens, Minnesota’s Catholic Bishops urge lawmakers to resist further funding cuts to human service programs to balance the state budget. In the statement, the
Bishops note, “Because human needs require it and other resources are not available to meet these needs, we believe that it is right and proper to raise income taxes justly and equitably.”
According to the statement, cuts to state funded services and programs in Minnesota have hurt the poor, elderly and sick. The Bishops cite a moral responsibility toward our fellow citizens as well as a tradition of compassion in the state in their call for a revenue increase.
(Excerpt) Read more at mncc.org ...
Just what the 5th highest taxed state needs...
Where was the last 3M plant built ?
More states should pass voter referendums outlawing their state income taxes.
Gee, why don't they just take more donations from their flocks and donate it to the state? Oh wait, they probably have really large legal fees right now.
Republicans control the Governor's mansion and the House, so there is little chance of a tax increase happening.
Easy for bishops to say, as they don't pay taxes. The Church neither. I say for them to get their own house in order first. Here in Spokane they are bankrupt.
I'm all for removing the tax exempt status of the Catholic Church if they're going to do this.
And good luck getting another dime out of me.
Well, I think these Catholic prelates need to ask the state to tax Catholic church properties so they can do their fair share for the poor. Just leave the present tax payers alone, please.
They are "contributing" more than enough.
Who let these leftie Bishops out of their cage?
The Catholic Church used to help "the poor and vulnerable," but have been spending more of the parishoners money on molestation victims lately.....
Ditto and I'm a Catholic!!!
Reason #452 why my Bishop doesn't get any money from me. I don't recall him saying squat about abortion during the election, but now when we don't need him, here he is.
patent
AMEN!!!
Catholic Charities receives gubmint state aid as do many other "non-profits".
I'd prefer they focus on saving souls and not raising taxes.
Well Padre, maybe you should sell off those empty inner city parishes and donate the money to the poor. Oh, I forgot, you need to pay off the victims of the Lavendar Brotherhood.
Hmmph. Catholic should be in quotes. The people paying those higher taxes won't be the rich Kerry types. Nor will it be the poor on the dole. It will be the middle class and the working poor. I guess Minnesota wants to emulate Massachusetts as the great commie bastion that it is. Barf. And, yes, I'm sure there will be questions about the tax status of the church and priests, but that will only hurt the work of the good priests and churches who haven't gone all leftie.
call me cynical, but I've always thought liberal bishops like this want the govt to take care of everything so the Church doesn't have to do its traditional duty of helping the poor anymore. Laziness and greed, pure and simple.
I'm sure the liberals are applauding this, but if these bishops were saying the govt needs to crack down on abortion, you'd hear nothing but hysterical cries of "separation of church and state!"
Human "needs" are infinite. Social resources are not. Using the state to redistribute wealth and income is a dangerous weapon to wield. It has two edges and may come back to injure the user when in other hands. Why doesn't the Catholic hierarchy call on a massive Church-led effort to use private philanthropy to meet these perceived "needs"? Why do they rely on the coercive power of the state?
haha...these priests dont even pay income taxes...what a jerk.
dont they know they are biting the hand that feeds them...do they think that if people give more money to the gov that they will continue to fund the church?
what an economic idiot.
Exactly. It used to be the responsibility of the Churches to aid the poor with the support of the parishioners. All the money going in the basket these days is going towards gold plated bibles and oppulent Church interiors. I'm fed up with these yahoos (as a Catholic who went thru 12 years of Catholic schooling.)
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