Posted on 03/04/2014 10:46:18 AM PST by greyfoxx39
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, a religious organisation registered as a private unlimited company in the UK, was told in 2005 that it was not exempt from paying business tax on its temple in Preston, Lancashire.
Because the public were not allowed access to the temple, which was reserved for the most devout Mormons, the High Court dismissed their appeal in July 2008.
However, the church refused to accept the decision, claiming that it amounted to discrimination on religious grounds and taking their battle all the way to Strasbourg.
Now the European Court of Human Rights has upheld the ruling of the British courts.
-SNIP-
Only the most devout members of the church, who hold a "recommend" status, are entitled to enter the temples.
The House of Lords ruled that the Preston temple was not qualified as a "place of public religious worship" since access was restricted to this select group.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
Maybe it is the Baptist in me, but I believe the right to obey God is given by God to all. Rights are RECOGNIZED by the Constitution, but not GIVEN by the Constitution.
By definition, this may be so, however, the temple building, according to British law, isn't used for "charitable purposes" in order to receive the tax exemption.
The Brits even granted them an extremely generous interpretation of their law by giving them an 80% exemption.
I’ll bet I can walk into your church anytime the doors are open.
I’ll probably be stopped from opening trough the pastor’s locked office door with a crowbar, but otherwise...
O...
K...
Bully for you!
Glad to hear you're not a HATER.
Not Bible thumping. She finally paid attention. But now get this. You may remember she was the campaign manager for Scott Howell who ran against idiot Hatch? She just signed on this month as the Campaign Manager for Doug Qwens the guy trying to run in the spot that Jim Matheson is vacating and against Mia Love.
I know, I still have work to do but at least she has finally shed the cause of her biggest problems. A stupid elitist liberal husband.
And I am saying that if the Church of England, which abandoned God many years ago, qualifies as a religion, then it is not too much of a stretch to recognize that Mormons are also a religious group. If a government grants tax breaks to churches, then it ought to do so equally.
Happily, we still have somewhat greater religious freedom in the US - but I believe we are no more than 20 years behind the Brits, and that the day is not far away when Baptists will have government knocking on the door, demanding submission.
Oh?
And just WHAT criteria determines where a person is a 'believer' or not?
Now I would think that anyone that’s faced with a summons, especially in consideration of the twelfth Article of Faith, would actually take proper legal advice and find out, if at all, they might be guilty of such a thing (Tom Phillips Feb 17, 2014)
THE ARTICLES OF FAITH
OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
History of the Church, Vol. 4, pp. 535—541
12.We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law. (Joseph Smith, March, 1842)
______________________________________
Still wanna make this about BELIEF instead of tax evasion?
Sorry Nana; but the legal department IS a part of the PR machine!!
*The following is a letter from Elder Lance B. Wickman, General Counsel of the Church to publishers of major newspapers, TV stations and magazines. It was sent out on Tuesday, June 24, 2008.
Recent events have focused the media spotlight on a polygamous sect near San Angelo, Texas, calling itself the “Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.” As you probably know, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has absolutely no affiliation with this polygamous sect. Decades ago, the founders of that sect rejected the doctrines of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, were excommunicated, and then started their own religion. To the best of our knowledge, no one at the Texas compound has ever been a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Unfortunately, however, some of the media coverage of the recent events in Texas has caused members of the public to confuse the doctrines and members of that group and our church. We have received numerous inquiries from confused members of the public who, by listening to less than careful media reports, have come to a grave misunderstanding about our respective doctrines and faith. Based on these media reports many have erroneously concluded that there is some affiliation between the two – or even worse, that they are one and the same.
Over the years, in a careful effort to distinguish itself, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has gone to significant lengths to protect its rights in the name of the church and related matters. Specifically, we have obtained registrations for the name “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,” “Mormon,” “Book of Mormon” and related trade and service marks from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and corresponding agencies in a significant number of foreign countries.
We are confident that you are committed to avoiding misleading statements that cause unwarranted confusion and that may disparage or infringe the intellectual property rights discussed above. Accordingly, we respectfully request the following:
Stated simply, we would like to be known and recognized for whom we are and what we believe, and not be inaccurately associated with beliefs and practices that we condemn in the strongest terms. We would be grateful if you could circulate or copy this letter to your editorial staff and to your legal counsel.
We thank you for your consideration of these important matters.
Sincerely,
Lance B. Wickman
General Counsel
You’ve said nothing in this reply that I disagree with.
They’re not saying the mormons aren’t a religious group...sheesh.
What they’re saying is that you can’t claim a tax exemption for buildings if they’re not used for “charitable purposes”.
If the CoE feeds the homeless out of the building, then I would grant that qualifies as charitable. The LDS temples (not to be confused with their meeting houses) do no such thing. Not even remotely close.
trough??
It bothered me when Tom Phillips said this in his interview on Infants on Thrones.
In previous postings by Phillips on various blogs, and in postings by Steve Benson quoting Phillips, Phillips quoted an email he received from a 'high-ranking member' in the church as saying the high-ranking member had received the Purdy email and summarized it for Phillips. Phillips never claimed to have seen the actual Purdy email.
Unless Phillips subsequently received the Purdy email, he's told two different stories.
Did the grandkids get her genes or his?
GOD does have a way of finally getting someone to listen!
Are you trying to imply that England DOESN'T?
That day is NOW!!
(Just ask the treasurer in your church as to the complexity of the taxes laws you are REQUIRED to follow now!)
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