Posted on 06/26/2013 5:13:31 PM PDT by drewh
Based on Wednesday’s Supreme Court ruling, in which the Court majority determined that the Defense of Marriage Act’s federal definition of marriage had to incorporate state-based same-sex marriages, Internal Revenue Service regulations could be modified to remove non-profit status for churches across the country.
The DOMA decision makes clear that marriage is a state-to-state issue, meaning that religious institutions that receive non-profit status on the federal level but do not perform or accept same-sex marriages in states where it is legal could have non-profit status revoked.
Furthermore, should the IRS move to revoke federal non-profit status for churches, synagogues and mosques that do not perform same-sex marriage more generally, the Court could easily justify that decision on the basis of “eradicating discrimination” in religious education.
The Court stated in Romer v. Evans (1996) that states could not take measures to prevent future distinction of gays and lesbians as a protected class under state law; in Lawrence v. Texas (2003) the Court ruled that same-sex sexual activity was Constitutionally protected; in the DOMA case on Wednesday, the Court ruled that DOMA was unconstitutional not merely on federalism grounds, but because it violated the equal protection clause of the 14th amendment and the due process clause of the Fifth Amendment.
On the state level, a movement is already under way to revoke non-profit status for religious organizations that do not abide by the same-sex marriage. In Massachusetts in 2006, Boston Catholic Charities withdrew from adoption services thanks to the state mandate on same-sex adoptions, rather than fight the issue in court. In California, a bill is already making its way through the legislature to bar non-profit status for any religious youth group that discriminates on the basis of “gender identity, race, sexual orientation, nationality, religion, or religious affiliation.”
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
The income tax is involved in so much that is bad in our country by means of the ability it gives politicians to reward and punish. A sales tax only would be equally paid by everyone.
I expect they’ll eventually begin playing games with the prebate, but initially it will be a level playing field.
“The Church should have abandoned civil marriage a long time ago.”
“Now, since the family and human society at large spring from marriage, these men will on no account allow matrimony to be the subject of the jurisdiction of the Church. Nay, they endeavor to deprive it of all holiness, and so bring it within the contracted sphere of those rights which, having been instituted by man, are ruled and administered by the civil jurisprudence of the community. Wherefore it necessarily follows that they attribute all power over marriage to civil rulers, and allow none whatever to the Church; and, when the Church exercises any such power, they think that she acts either by favor of the civil authority or to its injury. Now is the time, they say, for the heads of the State to vindicate their rights unflinchingly, and to do their best to settle all that relates to marriage according as to them seems good.”
—Pope Leo XIII, 1880
Freegards
That said I think any church would be wise to pay the taxes on any property or income rather than be under Cesar's Yoke of tax exempt status in exchange for silence. Then again IMO a church as the early churches often did can be established & the services help in ones own home. Given the oppression many Christians face in this world there are likely far more home churches than larger building housed churches.
If I lived in Canada, you might have a point. :-P
And they’ll add anti- abortion and contraception to the charges.
RED states should reword their marriage license to read union license therefore removing marriage from the equation. Then churches would be able to perform religious ceremonies equal to marriage and offer it only to their membership.
Churches can then determine whether they want yo allow homosexuals membership according to their rules. If a church does not allow homosexuals them they can’t be married there but can go on down to the court house and have their union ceremony performed.
Let’s just change it up so only churches perform marriages and to neck with the rump wranglers.
Would you trust the valuations of owned property under this administration? I’d bet O would try confiscation which many other tyrants in history have tried - especially when the state is hard up for money.
I suspect, if you are not “pro-gay”, it’s not the only thing that will happen to us.
Death to auto correct
The problem with that is what is stopping O from saying, “ok, you can have your marriage, but the state won’t recognize anyone you marry as married.”
If they are married in the Church - then they can’t get a civil marriage.
I agree. It’s time we revoke it all.
Yep! We should all be afraid of 400-lb IRS amebas squatting behind desks and stuffing their faces with creampuffs.
This is obuma’s army - fat, stupid, 60 IQ slobs who wouldn’t last 5 minutes on a battlefield.
The last time that the DHS engaged in training, it had to scour the entire district for enough volunteers who were capable of lifting a rifle and running at the same time.
“Most committed Christians see marriage as a religious institution and simply don’t give a flaming sh!t about what any government thinks about it.”
Maybe; on the other hand it might just be going the way of the dodo anyway, so nobody cares.
Interesting; thanks!
Government cannot be left out of marriage. Too many things involved like property, custody of children, etc. Marriage is the basis of our civil, as well as religious, society.
Amen!
“Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s and unto God that which is God’s.” Mark 12:17
Our God is bigger than the IRS and the Federal Government. Do NOT jump through their hoops when that is contrary to scripture just to retain a non-profit status.
In doing so, you may simply become a non-prophet organization, i.e., non-Biblical.
“Choose this day whom you will serve...” Joshua 24:15
“No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” Matthew 6:24
Nope buy at least out from under the Johnson Bill of Silence churches could once again become active on social issues especially during elections. Was John The Baptist silence bought? No John The Baptist paid with his life for his message to Herod as well as his preaching as did all but two of Christ chosen twelve. Judas hung himself after betraying Christ and John likely died of old age. The rest it is believed met violent deaths.
The government can not eliminate the church. It can't be done. Our bodies are our temples and where two or more are gathered in Jesus name there He is also. Church can be in a home, hospital, or prison. The Churches have survived far greater persecution in China and yet still thrive today. I believe our nation may soon see the same circumstances. Christianity will again rise up brought about by oppression {judgment} of it's people as a whole for falling away. That or we are indeed in The End Times and Christ Return is upon us.
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