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Gay advocates fight churches' charity status (Canada's culture war)
Ottawa Citizen - Canada ^ | Sunday, June 12, 2005 | Alex Hutchinson

Posted on 06/12/2005 2:41:46 PM PDT by GMMAC

Gay advocates fight churches' charity status
Institutions fear losing tax breaks if they oppose same-sex unions;
Rightly so, gay-rights group says


Alex Hutchinson
The Ottawa Citizen
Sunday, June 12, 2005


Churches that oppose same-sex marriage legislation have good reason to fear for their charitable status, a leading gay-rights advocate is warning.

"If you are at the public trough, if you are collecting taxpayers' money, you should be following taxpayers' laws. And that means adhering to the Charter," says Kevin Bourassa, who in 2001 married Joe Varnell in one of Canada's first gay weddings, and is behind www.equalmarriage.ca.

"We have no problem with the Catholic Church or any other faith group promoting bigotry," he said. "We have a problem with the Canadian government funding that bigotry."

Several Liberal backbenchers have been pressuring Prime Minister Paul Martin to amend the controversial gay-marriage bill, which is now before the House, to protect the tax status of churches that refuse to perform such marriages.

Under current rules, donations to religious groups are tax-privileged as long as the church refrains from partisan political activity.

"They can't connect their views with any political candidate," said Peter Broder, the director of regulatory affairs at Imagine Canada, an umbrella organization for charities and non-profit groups.

But the role of the Catholic Church in public debate is legitimate and legal, according to Bede Hubbard, the associate secretary general of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops.

"Right from the very beginning, the representatives of the government have called on Canadians to express their opinions," he said. "And certainly, Canadian churches are among Canadian citizens."

Even if the churches are in compliance with tax laws --with or without an amendment to the marriage bill -- they could still be subject to a challenge under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. But this is unlikely to succeed, Mr. Broder said.

"It's hard to see how that would happen," he said. "For example, I'm not aware of any religious group having been challenged on their refusal to marry divorced people."

Churches rely heavily on their charitable status to encourage more frequent and more generous donations, according to Janet Epp Buckingham, the director of law and public policy for the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada.

"The loss the charitable tax status would really affect the ability of these ministries to carry out their functions," she said. "That includes a lot of things that are beneficial to society, like homeless ministries, outreach to the poor, and international development."

As a result, the Evangelical Fellowship favours an amendment to the bill guaranteeing that charitable status will not be challenged-- even though the group opposes the bill as a whole.

"If they're going to redefine marriage anyway, we would like to see these kinds of amendments in the bill," Ms. Buckingham said.

Bonnie Greene, a retired United Church official who specialized in tax issues, said the charitable status of churches is not under any immediate threat.

However, the regulations governing charities are greatly in need of updating, she said.

"In Canadian law, the definition of charitable activity is over 400 years old, based on a legal case in England," Ms. Greene said. "This is not good for democracy in Canada."

For Mr. Bourassa and Mr. Varnell, who run the website www.equalmarriage.ca, the distinction between advocacy and partisan politics is artificial.

"Our website is completely self-funded," Mr. Bourassa said.

"We are not a charity, because fighting for our Charter of Rights is considered by the government to be advocacy. What is the difference between fighting for equality and fighting against equality? There's none." Currently, groups promoting human rights, the environment and peace are not considered charities. The rules should be changed to reflect the needs of civil society -- needs that were not present 400 years ago, Ms. Greene said.

Any new rules will need to keep faith and politics separate to satisfy Mr. Bourassa, who is a member of Metropolitan Community Church in Toronto.

"During the last election, my church removed all linkages to political non-charitable groups that were fighting for same-sex marriage from their website because of the political implications and the tax implications," Mr. Bourassa said.

And he intends to make other churches follow the same path.

"There are charitable activities that are legitimate within faith communities," he said.

"Political activities are not charitable activities."

© The Ottawa Citizen 2005


TOPICS: Canada; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Government
KEYWORDS: canada; cary; corruption; cults; faith; gayagenda; homosexualagenda; idolatry; liberals; lies; persecution; perverts; samesexmarriage
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OK, let's talk about 'democracy'.
Theology aside, the Churches give voice to the views of virtually all of their members and their adherents exclusively belong to them through free choice.
On the other hand, tax-exempt fat cat union bosses - who, tellingly, aren't under attack - don't care one iota about the political and/or social views of their rank and file members - many of whom wouldn't even belong to these outfits if they hadn't been openly coerced into joining as a condition of their employment.
Plus, let's take a hard look at the host of publicly-funded, tax-exempt, anti-majority special interest groups who've also quite blatantly taken sides.
Opposed to 'government funded bigotry' - no problem, let's shut down NAC! (Canada's equivalent of NOW)
Anyone still doubt this is culture war?
It's never been about alleged 'rights'.

1 posted on 06/12/2005 2:41:48 PM PDT by GMMAC
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To: fanfan; Pikamax; Former Proud Canadian; Great Dane; Alberta's Child; headsonpikes; coteblanche; ...
PING!
2 posted on 06/12/2005 2:42:37 PM PDT by GMMAC (paraphrasing Parrish: "damned Liberals, I hate those bastards!")
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To: GMMAC
Looks like the homosexuals up north have now lubricated the Slippery Slope with Astro-Glide.

bu bye Canada.

An American Expat in Southeast Asia

3 posted on 06/12/2005 2:45:24 PM PDT by expatguy (http://laotze.blogspot.com/)
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To: GMMAC

Gay activists only seek to destroy. What good has come from gay activism? Churches on the other hand generally seek to benefit society in some fashion. All gay groups do is focus on themselves like a bunch of narcisists and try tearing down social structures they don't like.


4 posted on 06/12/2005 2:46:59 PM PDT by Firefigher NC
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To: GMMAC

Not paying taxes is not the same as recieving taxpayer dollars. One is an exemption, and the other is a subsidy.


5 posted on 06/12/2005 2:47:57 PM PDT by ellery (The true danger is when liberty is nibbled away, for expedience, and by parts. - Edmund Burke)
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To: ellery

This is what the homosexuals are doing to attack the boyscouts for not giving homosexuals access to recruiting young boys.

It seems to me that by demanding a religion comply with government endorsed morality, they have established a religion of the state.

IOW, approved religions must believe this, this and this or they will not be allowed to freely exercise.


6 posted on 06/12/2005 2:52:05 PM PDT by longtermmemmory (VOTE!)
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Comment #7 Removed by Moderator

To: GMMAC

"We have a problem with the Canadian government funding that bigotry."

EXCUSE ME !? AM I OR AM I NOT ALREADY SUBSIDIZING HOMO-SEX BECAUSE CIVIL UNIONS ARE LEGAL,THEREFORE TAX PAYER SPOUSAL BENEFITS ARE GOING INTO THEIR PCOKETS?

WANNA BUTT-SLAM YOUR BUDDY IN YOUR BEDROOM? GO AHEAD,JUST DON`T ASK ME TO SUBSIDIZE OR ACCEPT IT.

SICK HETEROPHOBES , THEY NEED THERAPY.

http://peoplecanchange.com/index.htm


8 posted on 06/12/2005 3:19:22 PM PDT by Para-Ord.45
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To: dancinginthedesert

Welcome to FR today.


9 posted on 06/12/2005 3:22:06 PM PDT by anniegetyourgun
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To: GMMAC

Those hypocrites should shut their mouth; they are a taxpayer-funded group and they are bigots themselves.


10 posted on 06/12/2005 3:25:07 PM PDT by Heartofsong83
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To: GMMAC

Sponsors of their parent group EGALE Canada: http://www.egale.ca/index.asp?lang=E&item=113

#1 sponsor: Heritage Canada (federal taxpayers).

Status of Women Canada, Ontario Trillium Foundation and Canada's Digital Collections are also taxpayer-funded.

Besides, the conservative churches are NOT at all subsidized, instead they are just tax-exempt.


11 posted on 06/12/2005 3:29:17 PM PDT by Heartofsong83
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To: GMMAC

No free speech for churches...


12 posted on 06/12/2005 3:42:11 PM PDT by Unam Sanctam
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To: ellery
Not paying taxes is not the same as recieving taxpayer dollars. One is an exemption, and the other is a subsidy.

Isn't it funny how Leftist 501(c) tax-exempt corporations get both?

13 posted on 06/12/2005 3:47:08 PM PDT by Sir Francis Dashwood (LET'S ROLL!)
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To: dancinginthedesert
Assuming for a moment that - even if you only just showed-up - you're not yet another morally bankrupt Marxist troll.

Your statement "I don't fear homosexuals and don't know why so many do, yet I do fear increased government control in personal lives." leads me to believe:
1. you're not a parent ...
2. ... or one that somehow doesn't have a problem with the current state-sanctioned current imposition of 'all things homosexual' on your children ...
3. ... or someone who holds to an odd - and, dare I say, hypocritical - double standard when it comes the 'personal freedoms' of the roughly 98% of the population which happens to be heterosexual.

Although I must confess it wouldn't be the first time I mistook a libertarian for a troll.
BTW, 'fear' and a repugnance toward certain aberrant practices and related resentment of minorities aggressively determined to inflict their views, etc. on the majority, aren't precisely the same thing.
14 posted on 06/12/2005 3:55:51 PM PDT by GMMAC (paraphrasing Parrish: "damned Liberals, I hate those bastards!")
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To: dancinginthedesert
But religion demanding that government endorse their morality is OK?

Religious citizens in a "republic" form of government petitioning with their votes at the local, state, and federal level for governmental support of their religion is OK.

If the church decides that gun ownership is a sin, should the government be forced to comply?

The church doesn't decide what sin is; God already did that, and with authority. By the will of the people the government should comply. More power to will of the people who submit themselves to God's law.

I don't fear homosexuals and don't know why so many do,

Roll call! Who here fears homosexuals? Anybody? Anybody?

yet I do fear increased government control in personal lives. More regulation of personal lives means bigger government. And a slippery slope that allows for the decline of personal freedoms.

Finally, a statement citizens of a "republic" can understand. Welcome to FR.
15 posted on 06/12/2005 3:56:21 PM PDT by so_real ("The Congress of the United States recommends and approves the Holy Bible for use in all schools.")
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To: GMMAC
Churches that oppose same-sex marriage legislation have good reason to fear for their charitable status

Why doesn't the gay community, instead of trying to destroy traditions which have evolved over many centuries, start up their own church and apply for tax exempt status. They could elect their own Grand Gay Guru, design their own gay wedding ceremonies, and maybe even come up with some traditions that the straight community never even thought of. The truth is that we're not all the same and the straight community isn't interested in denying rights to the gay community ... what we're interested in is protecting the institution of marriage. Start your own church ... leave us alone.

16 posted on 06/12/2005 4:00:29 PM PDT by layman (Card Carrying Infidel)
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To: layman

They already have that. It is called the United Church of Canada and the Metropolitan Community Church.


17 posted on 06/12/2005 4:06:13 PM PDT by Heartofsong83
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To: anniegetyourgun

My, my, it most certainly appears as if
dancinginthedesert is no longer with us.
Wretched trolls ~ ever so tiresome.

18 posted on 06/12/2005 5:04:53 PM PDT by GMMAC (paraphrasing Parrish: "damned Liberals, I hate those bastards!")
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To: Heartofsong83
They already have that

Well, then they should give it a rest. I'm up to here with them. (pointing to my throat with my fingers extended out straight).

19 posted on 06/12/2005 5:10:08 PM PDT by layman (Card Carrying Infidel)
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To: layman
Churches losing their tax-exempt status really isn't the central point.
In fact, it might even be argued in the case of some the fatter and more smug ones, that it would compel them to re-adopt more historically authentic Christian attitudes and practices in a few areas.
However, the primary effect of losing this status would be to weaken them as a moral force and they're currently the main entities opposing the left's efforts to destroy the conventional family, impose its companion pro-decadence agenda and stifle our fundamental liberties.

Bottom line and theology aside: if you value your conventional family and your personal freedoms, back the traditional Churches.
It's no accident that the freedom-loving founding fathers of America were also all devout Christians.
20 posted on 06/12/2005 5:51:19 PM PDT by GMMAC (paraphrasing Parrish: "damned Liberals, I hate those bastards!")
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