[CanadianJeff]

Bartsimpson Bartsimpson:

Yes, you're right. But not the way you think. In the USA churches were always tax exempt and then in the 1950's then-Senator Lyndon B. Johnson pushed legislation that created the 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status that required all churches to be silent on political matters or else they'd be subject to taxes.

Naturally, this doesn't apply to churches that support Democrats.

Ok Bart I'm going to have to ask two things on that one:

1) How do you qualify which churches "support democrats" outside of maybe direct political contributions?

2) How do you know they don't pay taxes in spite of this? The law treats everyone equally no matter what party they support.

[BartSimpson]

CanadianJeff CanadianJeff:

Bartsimpson Bartsimpson:

Yes, you're right. But not the way you think. In the USA churches were always tax exempt and then in the 1950's then-Senator Lyndon B. Johnson pushed legislation that created the 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status that required all churches to be silent on political matters or else they'd be subject to taxes.

Naturally, this doesn't apply to churches that support Democrats.

Ok Bart I'm going to have to ask two things on that one:

1) How do you qualify which churches "support democrats" outside of maybe direct political contributions?

Plenty of black churches had their pastors actively campaigning for Obama in 2008 despite the law prohibiting them from doing so. Not one single fine was issued nor did any of them lose their tax exempt status over their overt political activities.

CanadianJeff CanadianJeff:

2) How do you know they don't pay taxes in spite of this? The law treats everyone equally no matter what party they support.

The law may treat people equally but the government that enforces the law does not.

[CanadianJeff]

If those pastors spoke out for Obama on their own time and without the church dollar how is it any different then any other passionate citizen donating time to the campaign?

That and on your later point if someone breaks the law they go before the court if it's prosecuted. The whole point of the judicial system is to be free of the other branches of government.

[FrenchPatriot]

BartSimpson BartSimpson:

FrenchPatriot FrenchPatriot:

Tax exempt is a law respecting religion IMO.

Yes, you're right. But not the way you think. In the USA churches were always tax exempt and then in the 1950's then-Senator Lyndon B. Johnson pushed legislation that created the 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status that required all churches to be silent on political matters or else they'd be subject to taxes.

Naturally, this doesn't apply to churches that support Democrats.

FrenchPatriot FrenchPatriot:

The issue is more Government allowing the con game to continue when all thinkers know it is a con game.

You atheists are always a bunch of fun. If only Christians invested as much effort in their faith as you do then the world would be a better place.

Seriously, you say you don't believe in God yet you fight Him with more faith and conviction than most people invest believing in Him.

FrenchPatriot FrenchPatriot:

Religions do not deserve to be exempt from laws that the rest of us have to follow.

Regards
DL

You can start a non-profit 501(c)(3) if you want so I'm not sure how you can say that religions are exempt from laws that allow anyone else to do the same thing if they want.

I'm curious, the 'D' in your name wouldn't happen to stand for 'Derby', would it?

No.

I am also not an atheist.

I just have a sane and moral Godhead and as a Gnostic Christian, it is my duty to show the poor morality of Christianity.

Regards
DL

[FrenchPatriot]

CanadianJeff CanadianJeff:

It's only institutionalized if the government gives money directly to the church for those causes. This is simply not the case. Most Christians don't think any less of women (despite what both Yahweh and Jesus tell them).

Exactly. Christianity is only worthy if you ignore it's laws and commandments and morality.

And we tax exempt such garbage.

Regards
DL

[FrenchPatriot]

CanadianJeff CanadianJeff:

If those pastors spoke out for Obama on their own time and without the church dollar how is it any different then any other passionate citizen donating time to the campaign?

That and on your later point if someone breaks the law they go before the court if it's prosecuted. The whole point of the judicial system is to be free of the other branches of government.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/11/08/ ... +Recent%29

I have to wonder if this church paid it's taxes on the funds it paid for this disc campagn.

Regards
DL

[CanadianJeff]

That's the church speaking out on an issue not a candidate or party and those DVDs were only mailed to parishioners of the church.

If they want to make a controversial stand let them. Most everyone has a gay friend or relative that they will keep in mind when they hear such negative nonsensical talk.

Truth has a funny way of sometimes showing itself as the simple alternative to lies.

[Zipperfish]

In Canada, churches are exempt from taxation not because they are religious institutions, but becuase they are registered charities. As charities they are expressly forbidden from political advocacy, although it's kind of nudge-nudge, wink-wink thing. Outfits like Greenpeace (on the left) and the Fraser Instititute (on the right) are wholly poitical, advocacy entities, but still registered charities.

I wiswh they keep teh tax emept status for churches that actually do good work like feeding the hungry and housing the homeless, as opposed to professional loudmouth organziations like Greenpeace and the Fraser Institute.

[BartSimpson]

CanadianJeff CanadianJeff:

If those pastors spoke out for Obama on their own time and without the church dollar how is it any different then any other passionate citizen donating time to the campaign?

Those pastors spoke from their pulpits.

And this is not just a story from 2008 as it is happening again:

http://politics.gather.com/viewArticle. ... 4981364802

CanadianJeff CanadianJeff:

That and on your later point if someone breaks the law they go before the court if it's prosecuted. The whole point of the judicial system is to be free of the other branches of government.

And what happens when it's not prosecuted? Because right now Obama is not prosecuting any of the pastors who support him from their pulpits.

[CanadianJeff]

I'm sorry but a blog that starts by claiming Obama is attacking Christians is not a reliable news source.

Not to mention the irony of "Obama is attacking Christians but not prosecuting those black Christians enough!" should be more then enough to make you back off using it as any credible source.

[FrenchPatriot]

Zipperfish Zipperfish:

In Canada, churches are exempt from taxation not because they are religious institutions, but becuase they are registered charities. As charities they are expressly forbidden from political advocacy, although it's kind of nudge-nudge, wink-wink thing. Outfits like Greenpeace (on the left) and the Fraser Instititute (on the right) are wholly poitical, advocacy entities, but still registered charities.

I wiswh they keep teh tax emept status for churches that actually do good work like feeding the hungry and housing the homeless, as opposed to professional loudmouth organziations like Greenpeace and the Fraser Institute.

Catholic churches have the same tax relief yet the Vatican is one of the wealthiest corporations in the world.

Do organiziations like Greenpeace and the Fraser Institute threaten you with hell if you do not feed their cause?

Regards
DL