Is it time to TAX the Catholic Church?

[HockeyMom]

I absolutely think so because they have now gone far beyond their issue of religious freedom for THEIR followers. Are they exempt from paying for contraceptives? YES! Are they exempt from marrying gay couples in states where Marriage Equality has passed? YES! So WHY are they still screaming about THEIR religious freedom? Because they want to ELIMINATE both of these CHOICES for ALL Americans! It is IMMORAL!!!! To who? YOU?

All we hear from are CATHOLIC bishops. Where are the Protestant bishops? Where are the Rabbis? Very quiet. I read one post on another site from a Protestant woman who said contraceptives are not against MY religion. If I want to follow the Catholic Church, I would become a Catholic.

Personally, I think the time has come. If you want to get involved in POLITICS, they you should pay taxes. Let's see how fast all these bishops shut up then.

[appleannie1]

1. The same holds true for the Evangelical Church, the Baptist Church, the Mormon Church etc. etc.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

2. Taxing all churches has been long overdue. nt

[onehandle]

4. Religious institutions such as the Catholic Church and the NRA should be taxed.

But it probably won't ever happen and certainly not in an election year.

[Cleita]

5. Used to be that giving churches tax free status, gave the

government a stick to hold over them in case they tried to meddle in the politics of separation of church and state. But now that they have been meddling in politics, sure it's time to tax all of them like you would any business.

[MADem]

6. Why not handle church donations the way the Germans do?

You tell the gubmint what your religion is, and the gubmint takes out your "tithe" and hands it to the church of your choosing.

All very orderly, no screwing around, no question about what you gave, and what you didn't. No temptations to pad the donation come tax time!

I'll bet we'd have a lot more secular types in this country if that were the case!

Anyway, as to your point, I think we should tax all churches and then let them run off at the mouth all they'd like.

Let them speak, and let them PAY like the rest of us do. They can "render unto Caesar" as well as the next fellow....!

[wendylaroux]

7. how would a politician

even suggest this idea? oh my,what a firestorm this would create! I wonder if it would pass on a ballot nation wide.

[DLevine]

8. I would include any religious institution involved in politics.

[TeamsterDem]

9. Tax em all. nt

[tsuki]

10. Apparently Italy thought so. It wants its property taxes

from the Church. Could be somewhere between 1 & 2.6 billion dollars.

[polichick]

11. They all should've been paying taxes all along - what a scam!

[oldhippydude]

12. i never refer to religious institution as "churches"

im fond of the label "faith industry"... because that's indeed what they have become

[shcrane71]

17. That's appropriate. I'm going to start using that. Thanks! nt

[madrchsod]

13. i`d say so because

the church is run by the pope and the pope is the head of a foreign state. he sets policies that are relayed to the membership by appointed officials of the organization in the Vatican. most if not all protestant churches are governed by the membership of their church. my methodist church has always been fairly liberal in my conservative town. there`s other methodist churchs who are far more liberal or conservative.

[Dokkie]

14. Just as long as we

start taxing other churches and religious institutions. No if its only the caholic church, so but you dont get to pick and choose which church you hate the most

[Iggo]

15. Long past time.

[HopeHoops]

16. No. All "churches" - especially the Westboro Bastard Church.