Pope set to declare income tax evasion 'socially unjust'(budget crisis in Italy)

The Times of London ^ | 08/11/2007 | Richard Owen

[KingSnorky]

And just how much in taxes did the Roman Catholic Church pay last year?

[wideawake]

As usual, the actual document will be vastly different than the MSM's blurb about it.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

Not a new position.

“Render unto Caeser that which is Caeser’s, and unto God that which is God’s.”

[Little Ray]

Hmmm. I guess Methodists, Baptists, and Presbyterians can look forward to a bunch of converts.

[JTHomes]

Wow, the Church colluding with government to fleece and enslave the people. How novel.

[badpacifist]

Before you get too snarky..snorky remember how many Catholics there are and think what a good thing it is that the local joe in the pew paid his taxes. So didn’t the your people in your church pay their taxes? Did your church pay any taxes?

[RabidBartender]

"As usual, the actual document will be vastly different than the MSM's blurb about it."

That won't deter the anti-Catholics here. This is chum for them.

[Wonder Warthog]

"He called on the West to promote an equitable world economic system based on social justice rather than profit."

T'only problem is that every time it has been tried under government control, the cure has been worse than the disease.

The only system that seems to work in THIS world is the one that maximizes individual freedom, and lets individuals CHOOSE to be good. Enforced "virtue" ALWAYS turns into tyranny.

[KingSnorky]

I noticed you didn’t answer my question. :-)

[bnelson44]

Social Encyclical Coming Next?
Rome, Aug. 13, 2007 (CWNews.com) - The second encyclical by Pope Benedict XVI will focus on economic issues, Vatican officials say.

The forthcoming encyclical would continue the series of papal statements on Catholic social teaching. The Holy Father is preparing the document for the 40th anniversary of Populorum Progressio, the social encyclical released in 1967 by Pope Paul VI.

The Vatican has not formally confirmed that the Pope is writing an encyclical, nor have officials given any indication of when the document could be released. However in July, as the Pontiff began his vacation in the Alps, Father Federico Lombardi, the director of the Vatican press office, told reporters that the Pope would spend part of his time working on a new encyclical. Ignazio Ingrao, who covers the Vatican the Italian magazine Panorama, reports that the focus of the new papal statement will be the process of globalization. Pope Benedict will emphasize the need for economic structures and regulations that promote solidarity and favor the equitable distribution of resources, he said.

In Italy, the Panorama report drew widespread attention because Ingrao predicted that the Pope would explicitly condemn tax evasion. The use of tax havens by wealthy individuals has become a hot topic in that country.

Deus Caritas Est, the long-awaited first encyclical by Benedict XVI, was released in January 2006. Shortly after his election, the Pope disclosed that he did not expect to issue many papal documents— a statement that surprised the many readers familiar with the prolific work of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger prior to his election as Roman Pontiff.

http://www.ewtn.com/vnews/getstory.asp?number=81380

[sourcery]

Taxation is theft. There is nothing morally wrong with evading taxes. Legally, however, although there is no obligation to structure one's activities so as to maximize the amount of taxes due, it is illegal to fail to pay whatever taxes are due based on you actual activities.

[Red Badger]

Pay your taxes. I think the IRS wanted to kill me for $3200 in 1980............

[Tao Yin]

Pope Benedict intends to argue for a world trade and economic system “regulated in such a way as to avoid further injustice and discrimination”, Ignazio Ingrao, a Vatican watcher, said yesterday.

There's chum alright. There are 2 points that I have a problem with. 1) Government anal exam of the world trade and economic system. Didn't anyone learn the lesson of Hong Kong? 2) Trying to avoid injustice and discrimination. This one is a two parter. First, the government is involved in way to much crap. Second, the words injustice and discrimination are sending out mad, crazy alarms. Sounds like Robin Hood to me.

No clue why the Pope is involved in this type of debate, but I hope his actual declaration is better than the MSM's blurb.

How about responsible spending, reasonable tax law, and charity?

[badpacifist]

You didn’t answer mine either...........so does your church pay taxes?

[SirLinksalot]

Pope Benedict intends to argue for a world trade and economic system “regulated in such a way as to avoid further injustice and discrimination”

THis is quite intriguing and interesting.

I really like to know who Benedict proposes should be the regulator and how he thinks this regulator ( whoever he/she/they is/are) should actually regulate trade to avoid injustice and discrimination.

I am also interested in reading how "injustice" and "discrimination" will be defined in the context of world trade.

[Pyro7480]

Oh, and I bet you complain about the mainstream media’s coverage of other people/topics. Yet you believe this?

[SirLinksalot]

Pay your taxes. I think the IRS wanted to kill me for $3200 in 1980

I think the issue isn't whether or not we should pay our taxes. The more important one is HOW to structure our tax system to ensure maximum fairness.

I personally don't think that a 32,000 page tax code is the right way to go.

[EagleUSA]

And just how much in taxes did the Roman Catholic Church pay last year?
:::::
Good point. And when will they keep out of matters of law and politics?

[badpacifist]

I personally don't think that a 32,000 page tax code is the right way to go.

Can I hear an Amen!