Posted on 01/12/2005 2:17:13 PM PST by Rakkasan1
Maybe they should voluntarily renounce their tax-exempt status.
I am not up to snuff on all the bits and pieces of the tax code. I believe that their institutions are exempt from sales and property taxes, though. I know churches did not pay sales tax when I lived in Pennsylvania.
Everyone receives social security, though, even if they do not pay income taxes. Between a third and half of the country does not pay income taxes in any formal fashion (as in fill out a tax form in April).
My chief problem was not that they allegedly don't pay into the system, however. My problem was with church leaders advocating an increased burden being placed on their believers. Scripture takes no stance one way or the other on the matter. I fear that they see taxation as contributing to a charity, which it obviously is not. I wouldn't have minded if they encouraged people to give to charity. I was taught to value the thought and to give with a song in the heart. Forcible extraction of money from others is not charitable by the very definition of the word. The clergy does many good things all around the world, but this action on the part of these Bishops was not one of them.
As a Catholic, the first thing that came to my mind is trying to imagine the Apostles Peter and Paul asking the Roman Govt to increase taxes to aid the poor. I couldn't do it.
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.