Posted on 06/29/2015 5:02:53 AM PDT by Servant of the Cross
For years conservatives and proponents of religious liberty in America have warned that if same-sex marriage became legal, the left would then pursue revoking the tax exempt status for religious institutions, particularly Christian churches, around the country.
Just days after the Supreme Court ruled in a 5-4 decision that gay marriage is a constitutional right, progressive activists like Mark Oppenheimer of the New York Times are calling for tax exempt statutes to be stripped.
The Supreme Court's ruling on gay marriage makes it clearer than ever that the government shouldn't be subsidizing religion and non-profits.
Rather than try to rescue tax-exempt status for organizations that dissent from settled public policy on matters of race or sexuality, we need to take a more radical step. Its time to abolish, or greatly diminish, their tax-exempt statuses.
Defenders of tax exemptions and deductions argues that if we got rid of them charitable giving would drop. It surely would, although how much, we cant say. But of course government revenue would go up, and that money could be used to, say, house the homeless and feed the hungry. Wed have fewer church soup kitchens but countries that truly care about poverty dont rely on churches to run soup kitchens.
So yes, the logic of gay-marriage rights could lead to a reexamination of conservative churches tax exemptions (although, as long as the IRS is afraid of challenging Scientologys exemption, everyone else is probably safe). But when that day comes, it will be long overdue. I can see keeping some exemptions; hospitals, in particular, are an indispensable, and noncontroversial, public good. And localities could always carve out sensible property-tax exceptions for nonprofits their communities need. But its time for most nonprofits, like those of us who faithfully cut checks to them, to pay their fair share.
Incredible.
The left will claim they aren't singling out religious institutions through their calls for the revocation of tax exempt statuses because they include non-profits, but the fact is that a majority of non-profits in the country are religious. The Salvation Army, which truly helps the homeless and addicted clean up their lives and get off the streets, is one example.
Meanwhile, the ACLU said over the weekend it will no longer defend the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which was signed into law by President Bill Clinton in the 1990s after a unanimous vote in the Senate.
Although Justice Kennedy did carve out an exception for religious liberty in his opinion on same-sex marriage last week, it won't be enough to protect it going forward.
"Finally, it must be emphasized that religions, and those who adhere to religious doctrines, may continue to advocate with utmost, sincere conviction that, by divine precepts, same-sex marriage should not be condoned. The First Amendment ensures that religious organizations and persons are given proper protection as they seek to teach the principles that are so fulfilling and so central to their lives and faiths, and to their own deep aspirations to continue the family structure they have long revered. The same is true of those who oppose same-sex marriage for other reasons. In turn, those who believe allowing same-sex marriage is proper or indeed essential, whether as a matter of religious conviction or secular belief, may engage those who disagree with their view in an open and searching debate. The Constitution, however, does not permit the State to bar same-sex couples from marriage on the same terms as accorded to couples of the opposite sex," Kennedy said in the opinion.
Religious liberty is under attack in America and the next five years will serve as a battleground to protect or destroy it. If religious liberty is in fact destroyed, America will no longer hold onto one of the most important principles that makes it an exceptional nation more tolerant than the rest in the world. We are at a tipping point.
Yes, and if they set up mandatory church membership rules before marrying, they will be sued for discrimination. They game board has been set folks, and the Constitution is just a piece of parchment in a museum.
There’s a thought.... Ministers required to sign loyalty oaths to the federal government or risk prison and seizure of all assets by the IRS
Maybe obama think this will rid him of these troublesome priests
Baptist Churches lose tax exemptions? Nope... Synagogues? Nope. Mosques ? Nope..
churches losing tax exemptions is a liberal wet dream.
And who will play the role of the Duke of Suffolk? Locking the church doors with everyone inside and setting them ablaze? Not to be dark, but this story has all played out several times before. It’s coming and people better be prepared.
“Separation of church and state”
“Separation of church and state”
“Separation of church and state”
chanted in that whiney, lock-jawed, npr patented voice.
If homosexuals can force a church to marry them under the fear of losing the tax exemption or descrimination suit, can they also force what the pastor says?
Suppose the marriage ceremony was a sermon on the evils of homosexuality as sited by the scriptures with the final question put the the participants,
“In your sin, do you still want to do be an abomination before God?”
“I do.” “I do.”
“You may now suck the face of the groom-bride, whatever.”
Supposedly we have a constitution that has an amendment that protects religious freedom, but last week’s decisions prove we no longer have a constitution. Judges just make up whatever the hell they feel like making up.
One could hope. Hypothetically, if churches could be compelled to offer same-sex weddings, the demand might dry up rather quickly if they couldn't get their fabulous gay wedding. Usher the "happy couple" into a back office, rush through some insipid vows, tell them "Because the law of the state demands it and against my better judgment, you're married. Sign here please," and quickly ushered off the premises. Make it all about as pleasant as renewing their driver's licenses.
Yes it is coming. And Tudor England offers some fascinating parallels. I am now watching “The Tudors”!
I do. I do.
You may now suck the face of the groom-bride, whatever.
Or, "Fine, you're married. Sign here, and we need the building empty in 10 minutes."
Always keep in mind that their whole point behind all this is to criminalize biblical Christian beliefs.
Then ask your question - what avenues will they pursue to make it a criminal act to be a bible believing Christian?
The answer is - any and all.
I don’t think the Left really wants churches to be taxed. For one, that would remove the requirement of politics not being promoted/discussed in churches.
when our freedoms come from men (aka “the government”) then they can be defined by those men and taken away by those men. A government big enough to give you everything you want is big enough to take away everything you have.
These are the times in which we live. And in only 239 years have come full circle from our Founders’ remarkable revolutionary documents defining rights as springing from God and therefore being “inalienable”
Someone told me once that Mohammed is the master and that everyone is a slave waiting to be killed.
The Left doesn’t want churches taxed,
they want Christian churches to not exist,
and better yet, their members PUNISHED.
That is the crux of all this.
The Supremes just nullified the 1st amendment which is the base for the others. Without the 1st, the rest are at serious risk. They have also nullified laws passed by individual states, opening the gate for them to nullify any other state law. And since NO ONE with any power is standing up to them, they now have free rein to do whatever they want. The checks and balance system is gone.
Liturgy for blessing same-sex relationships begins provisional use
THREE YEARS AGO!!!
Same-sex unions accepted by Evangelical Lutherans
SIX YEARS AGO!
Did anyone EVER foresee the day “Kristallnacht” would be set loose by our government against selected citizens in American towns? The shutdown of public monuments by militarized National Park Service rangers has faded into distant memory! Unbelievable! It showed that orchestrated plans have been drawn and showed the utter contempt (or worse) of this president and his legions for over half the citizens of America.
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