Posted on 07/01/2015 7:52:04 AM PDT by rhema
The Supreme Court decision on same-sex marriage settled little. It merely launched a bigger struggle over the definition of marriage.
Now, resistance to Obergefell v. Hodges will join Roe v. Wade in becoming another, long-tailed comet moving across the socio-political skies of America.
A third, landmark Supreme Court initiative waits over the horizon. It will involve the 2nd Amendment. Perhaps not soon, but coming.
Following Obergefell v. Hodges, much discussion now centers on the potential loss of tax-exempt status to churches that resist. Same-sex marriage zealots will look for opportunities to cement the Court’s decision by forcing churches, through the lower courts, to perform same-sex marriages.
Either they do it – the churches – or lose it (their tax-exempt status).
Meanwhile, denominational hierarchies will huddle behind closed doors and examine options beyond compliance or non-compliance when their doctrine clearly forbids clergy to conduct marriage ceremonies for any couple other than one man and one woman.
The Roman Catholic Church will, of course, be the lead ecclesiastic actor in this drama.
The federal government is unlikely to undertake a frontal assault on Roman Catholics, but it could move aggressively against one of the smaller, less financially endowed, Protestant denominations. Or, it may act against a very large, independent congregation.
(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...
When, after years of separation, Joseph of the Old Testament was reunited with his brothers who sold him into slavery, they feared he would seek revenge, even though he had flourished in Egypt. He allayed their fears saying, “You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good.”
If churches lose tax-exempt status because of non-compliance with government edicts mandating they perform same-sex marriages, then whatever the government’s intentions, the end result will be good for the church. Or, better than good.
“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness”
- Isaiah 5:20
“Only fools say in their hearts, “There is no
God.” They are corrupt, and their actions are evil; not one of them does good!”
-Psalm 14:1
Can you imagine all those preachers completely free to speak on issues and candidates after the tax exemptions are revoked? And urging the members of the congregation to get out and vote?
Wonder how the black churches are going to like marrying homosexuals.
Pray America is waking
No one should have to pay a tax to worship GOD. No way, no how.
I have never understood the reasoning behind churches being “tax-exempt”. That sounds very akin to applying for and receiving permission from the government to be a church. Does this mean, If I want to start a branch of some existing denomination I have to ask permission from the government?
The other side of that argument, what is a higher and best use of a piece of property, a tax exempt church or a home or business that the government can collect property and other taxes from?
....The federal government is unlikely to undertake a frontal assault on Roman Catholics, but it could move aggressively against one of the smaller, less financially endowed, Protestant denominations. Or, it may act against a very large, independent congregation.....
Or some of the Orthodox jurisdictions, especially the smaller and less financially endowed ones!
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3306502/posts?page=5#5
Interesting; then all churches, not just certain ones, would be able to speak freely.
The power to tax is the power to destroy. If the government had the power to tax organized religions then it most certainly will tax those that oppose its policies into nonexistence.
They will not only say “Now Church you will pay tax on Your property and ON your offerings, but you will also pay back tax to the date of your founding”. Thus the Church will loose its property, its school, and its ability to pay its workers. Soon we will have only underground house churches.
All the more reason to get a genuinely conservative president elected. There will most likely be two or three vacancies on the Supreme Court during the next term. We can’t have any more people like Roberts on the court.
Even apart from the tax exemption issue, the government will be able to destroy churches financially with punitive fines. If two homosexuals want to rent a church hall for a wedding reception and the church refuses, a judge can impose a fine beyond the ability of the church to pay. And of course the homosexuals will target the churches that are least likely to want to allow them to rent the hall...just as they have deliberately targeted bakers.
Even apart from the tax exemption issue, the government will be able to destroy churches financially with punitive fines. If two homosexuals want to rent a church hall for a wedding reception and the church refuses, a judge can impose a fine beyond the ability of the church to pay. And of course the homosexuals will target the churches that are least likely to want to allow them to rent the hall...just as they have deliberately targeted bakers.
I agree with the author. The churches are better off without tax exempt status. Charitable deductions are about to go away anyway; caesar can’t stand anyone but himself reaping the largesse.
Under the First Amendment to the Constitution, Congress cannot make any law “respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech.” The phrase “unless the religious organization wants to be tax-exempt” does not appear in the First Amendment, yet arguably, the Code does each of these things which the Constitution outlaws.
Charitable deductions are about to go away anyway; caesar can’t stand anyone but himself reaping the largesse.
Where did you hear that...?
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