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zwyziec

(173 posts)
69. Unite! and Join me a New Movement to Tax all religious church property!
Thu Dec 6, 2012, 03:51 PM
Dec 2012

should be taxed.

Let's start with property tax first. If you own a home or a business you are subsidizing all the non-profit religious organizations in your country. For the entire USA that means more than $1.5 trillion in untaxed church property including:

churches, schools, diocesan offices, bishops residences, clergy residences, cemeteries, hospitals, universities, retreat facilities, youth camps, megachurches, store front churches, convents, seminaries and all the companies who supply products to those churches including wine, hosts and religious items.

I did a study two years ago which included Wisconsin assessors office and spoke to the State Assessor. My goal was to find out how to calculate the total amount of untaxed church property in that state. He said I would have to go county by county and look at each county map and then make an assumption about the value of that plot. I told him that sounded very difficult, couldn't I just purchase a report from his office? His reply was this: "We don't keep those values because if we did we'd have to publish them and if we did publish them, that would make a lot of people very, very angry."

I also did state by state review of their websites trying to locate these amounts. Few provide that information.

It is very possible that people who are fed up with the interference of these churches in politics, start local movements within their county to research and generate the value of untaxed church property.

My wife and I would be overjoyed to use our website business to generate and maintain a website that would compile and report on each state by state, county by county result.

This is the way the Creationists have taken over local school boards, city by city, village by village and town by town to spread their ignorance on our children.

If anyone is interested in this let me know.

Zwyziec

Without a doubt. 2naSalit Dec 2012 #1
Hell no! when you allow that, they are allowed at the table to make law. SugarShack Dec 2012 #130
They're already at the table JustABozoOnThisBus Dec 2012 #132
And... 2naSalit Dec 2012 #151
Absolutely!!!! Pisces Dec 2012 #2
Especially Christian churches. rainin Dec 2012 #3
The Catholic priests... 3catwoman3 Dec 2012 #120
Just imagine the Mormon money working for them. We may all have to wear their underwear! SugarShack Dec 2012 #131
You can't do that constitutionally democrattotheend Dec 2012 #158
There was a church in my area that spent $45 million on a new building this year. Initech Dec 2012 #4
Here is why I think we should tax churches... phantom power Dec 2012 #5
Long past time. Tax them like the businesses they are. n/t MANative Dec 2012 #6
Do you want to tax all non-profit organizations, or just religious ones? Freddie Stubbs Dec 2012 #7
I would not tax charitable organizations FreeState Dec 2012 #12
Why is it relevant if if it a charity 'outside its own faith?' Freddie Stubbs Dec 2012 #165
I'd give them deduction for certain activities. ReasonableToo Dec 2012 #54
Why is your question even relevant to this debate? dballance Dec 2012 #57
Are you are saying that nonprofits with buildings under a certain size should be exempt from tax? Freddie Stubbs Dec 2012 #166
Oh Please dballance Dec 2012 #171
The non-profit arm of the church adieu Dec 2012 #64
I say... AlbertCat Dec 2012 #87
You always ask the question. Why dont you tell us how you feel? nm rhett o rick Dec 2012 #112
I oppose taxing non-profits Freddie Stubbs Dec 2012 #167
A few of them have let slip their real agenda. Union Scribe Dec 2012 #139
Real non-profits _ed_ Dec 2012 #145
UNICEF is an part of the UN. They have a big fancy building sitting on prime real estate Freddie Stubbs Dec 2012 #169
Yes. fadedrose Dec 2012 #8
I think they should be taxed MynameisBlarney Dec 2012 #41
Churches, corporations, charities The Second Stone Dec 2012 #9
it would be difficult to achieve taxation of churches cali Dec 2012 #10
Obama, give us a liberal court. n/t rainin Dec 2012 #11
Not sure that would help democrattotheend Dec 2012 #161
Absolutely!!! spartan61 Dec 2012 #13
Long overdo! I would love to tax them into arthritisR_US Dec 2012 #14
Aaaaaaand the real motive appears. nt Union Scribe Dec 2012 #138
Sorry, I don't understand arthritisR_US Dec 2012 #141
Took longer than I expected, actually. cordelia Dec 2012 #168
Yes. peacebird Dec 2012 #15
When have I not thought this rock Dec 2012 #16
Works for me.......... NT Ernesto Dec 2012 #17
Indeed! shrdlu Dec 2012 #18
You can't pick and choose among non-profits. former9thward Dec 2012 #19
Surely only profits would be taxed? And non-profits don't make a profit? Nye Bevan Dec 2012 #24
They would be taxed on their income (donations). former9thward Dec 2012 #35
Your idea would hurt a lot of nonprofits with no religious affiliation, it would actually kill kids pediatricmedic Dec 2012 #74
Not my idea. former9thward Dec 2012 #95
What profit do churches have? AlexSatan Dec 2012 #37
OK, that's what I'm missing. Profit = Income - Expenses. Nye Bevan Dec 2012 #61
What profit do churches have? AlbertCat Dec 2012 #89
So the same should happen to all non-profits, right? AlexSatan Dec 2012 #91
Do non-profits get a rectory tax free? AlbertCat Dec 2012 #94
Non profits do a lot of those things. former9thward Dec 2012 #98
Non profits do a lot of those things. AlbertCat Dec 2012 #99
Google is your friend AlexSatan Dec 2012 #104
Stop it!!! AlexSatan Dec 2012 #105
Which would effectively eliminate the vast majority of religious facilities. LTX Dec 2012 #92
in reality elimination of, small churches, synagogues, and mosques i AlbertCat Dec 2012 #97
Does that mean you will just target large AlexSatan Dec 2012 #100
How would you avoid discrimination claims? LTX Dec 2012 #106
Yep. Union Scribe Dec 2012 #140
Yes we can pick and choose - when some are acting as lobbying arms rather than non-profits TBF Dec 2012 #123
No you can't. former9thward Dec 2012 #134
"If a non-profit is violating its status then the IRS can revoke its non-profit status" - TBF Dec 2012 #163
I'm tired of subsidizing these con-jobs. n/t Egalitarian Thug Dec 2012 #20
Should have done lhat long time ago! Auntie Bush Dec 2012 #21
It's waaaaay overdue! City Lights Dec 2012 #22
They should at LEAST be taxed the same amount as big Corporations.... ejbr Dec 2012 #23
yes tax them ThomThom Dec 2012 #25
Absolutely denvine Dec 2012 #26
I do not buy their numbers. Unca Jim Dec 2012 #27
Would Jesus wear a Rolex on the TV on Sunday? RomneyLies Dec 2012 #29
Yeah, I tend to ignore random numbers thrown around on the internets. progressoid Dec 2012 #115
It was never time to STOP taxing them. RomneyLies Dec 2012 #28
Particularly libodem Dec 2012 #30
Has Been a Pet Peeve... PoliticalBiker Dec 2012 #31
Every last church and cult... NYtoBush-Drop Dead Dec 2012 #32
The amount of abuse of tax-exempt status by churches AND other kinds of non-profits is staggering slackmaster Dec 2012 #33
I think it is past time to check ALL the non-profits to make sure they are what they say they are. Frustratedlady Dec 2012 #34
This is a post I can agree with. narnian60 Dec 2012 #39
It's much, much more complicated than all of this. ParkieDem Dec 2012 #36
Then tax the AARP, and Labor Unions, etc? mostlyconfused Dec 2012 #51
Tax the churches or else..... mgardener Dec 2012 #38
Yes Sir. oldbanjo Dec 2012 #40
I've been thinking that for a while now. socialindependocrat Dec 2012 #42
Absolutely .. FarPoint Dec 2012 #43
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSS Napoleon838 Dec 2012 #44
yes. long past time. bowens43 Dec 2012 #45
Amen! ReRe Dec 2012 #46
burn them down datasuspect Dec 2012 #47
Anti-theism on steroids. n/t LTX Dec 2012 #93
anti-humanist bigot on goofballs datasuspect Dec 2012 #96
Bigot? LTX Dec 2012 #101
Yeah, like the Birmingham church bombing! Union Scribe Dec 2012 #144
It's not a hate crime if you agree with it. Dr. Strange Dec 2012 #149
yep. religion is filled with hate datasuspect Dec 2012 #152
What do you have against the humanity cordelia Dec 2012 #170
Churches should be taxed. PufPuf23 Dec 2012 #48
Should have been done long ago. another_liberal Dec 2012 #49
6% mostlyconfused Dec 2012 #55
Churches Want To Be TAXED rsmith6621 Dec 2012 #50
They can relinquish their tax exempt status at any time. Mariana Dec 2012 #113
Does anyone else think it's time to tax the churches? The CCC Dec 2012 #52
The tax exemption is not Constitutional. The government should not be funding religions. nm rhett o rick Dec 2012 #111
Yes it past due... haikugal Dec 2012 #53
If they used their money to actually help the poor it would be one thing, truebluegreen Dec 2012 #56
More and more the preaching comes to politics. peace13 Dec 2012 #58
Churches, universities and hospitals are all tax free and maybe ... Vox Moi Dec 2012 #59
Churches, universities and hospitals are all tax free and maybe ... The CCC Dec 2012 #68
Yes Yes NOIBN Dec 2012 #60
You can only tax churches if you tax ALL non-profit orgs. NYC Liberal Dec 2012 #62
Good point! FailureToCommunicate Dec 2012 #81
I don't get this Sgent Dec 2012 #147
Churches fall under 501(c)(3) along with certain other types of non-profit orgs NYC Liberal Dec 2012 #150
Yes and no Sgent Dec 2012 #154
Exactly democrattotheend Dec 2012 #159
No however.... LynneSin Dec 2012 #63
Only the churches that openly endorse one candidate or party over another. sarchasm Dec 2012 #65
absolutely riverbendviewgal Dec 2012 #66
Yes!!! santamargarita Dec 2012 #67
Unite! and Join me a New Movement to Tax all religious church property! zwyziec Dec 2012 #69
Great post dreamnightwind Dec 2012 #114
taxes mcgarry50 Dec 2012 #70
Long overdue. hifiguy Dec 2012 #71
As long as the Church is tax exempt The Wizard Dec 2012 #72
"Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion". Nye Bevan Dec 2012 #78
nor prohibiting the free exercise thereof democrattotheend Dec 2012 #160
Definitely nt Nye Bevan Dec 2012 #162
Long, long past time! Raster Dec 2012 #73
Tax Information for Churches and Religious Organizations (IRS) pinto Dec 2012 #75
Long overdue! n/t Paper Roses Dec 2012 #76
Yes Please. Jesus wants to pay his quarterlies now! nt Walk away Dec 2012 #77
No. And this is a little silly. dawg Dec 2012 #79
Most of the contributed money isn't even declared on taxes. GreenStormCloud Dec 2012 #164
Yes, count me in! FiveGoodMen Dec 2012 #80
Fitting that the image is of the Mormon Tabernacle. KamaAina Dec 2012 #82
I think it's time to enforce *existing* tax law. gcomeau Dec 2012 #83
Not everything. Cleita Dec 2012 #84
Fuck ya! n/t Hotler Dec 2012 #85
Absolutely not, and a perfectly ridiculous idea: LTX Dec 2012 #86
Deinfintely. And there's an app for that. Dark n Stormy Knight Dec 2012 #88
Pat Robertson's-----DEFINITELY!! young_at_heart Dec 2012 #90
No, But Yes ProfessorGAC Dec 2012 #102
Yes. Pool Hall Ace Dec 2012 #103
Any church that tries to insert its dogma into civil law Warpy Dec 2012 #107
Yes, I think churches should pay taxes. nt ZombieHorde Dec 2012 #108
Yes,but what about only the ones who are political? cpamomfromtexas Dec 2012 #109
That's just the beginning of what I think it's time for. (nt) Kurovski Dec 2012 #110
Yes jackbenimble Dec 2012 #116
Time to start a movement. sarcasmo Dec 2012 #117
HELLS YEAH! loudsue Dec 2012 #118
Amen Timbuk3 Dec 2012 #119
Yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes Squinch Dec 2012 #121
It's way femrap Dec 2012 #122
Long past time to tax them ProfessionalLeftist Dec 2012 #124
Definitely! It could really change the South.nt sylvanus Dec 2012 #125
Absolutely! nt avebury Dec 2012 #126
HELL yes!!! MotherPetrie Dec 2012 #127
Separate church and state by not giving churches exceptional treatment under the law! Coyotl Dec 2012 #128
R#110 & K for, YESssss!1 n/t UTUSN Dec 2012 #129
absolutely larkrake Dec 2012 #133
I know alot of priests who drive Beamers and they run a racket larkrake Dec 2012 #135
Yes. Mega churches are often media and publishing empires. Politicub Dec 2012 #136
Long past time. Iggo Dec 2012 #137
If they want to play then they should pay..... Historic NY Dec 2012 #142
Yes, wholeheartedly Aerows Dec 2012 #143
I think they should receive a tax exemption only to the extent they are doing charitable work Major Nikon Dec 2012 #146
FREE RIDE homegirl Dec 2012 #148
Churches are like businesses in a sense xxxsdesdexxx Dec 2012 #153
Yes. Absolutely. Next question? Taverner Dec 2012 #155
Tithing to churches should not be tax exempt. LiberalFighter Dec 2012 #156
I really really agree xxxsdesdexxx Dec 2012 #157
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