Reply #12

In the discussion thread: Do YOU think it's time to end the tax exempt status of churches? [View all]

Response to Playinghardball (Original post)

Fri Jun 1, 2012, 03:32 PM

cigsandcoffee (1,979 posts)

12. Don't forget that black churches are powerful Democratic vote producers. n/t

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196 replies	Author	Time	Post
Do YOU think it's time to end the tax exempt status of churches? [View all]	Playinghardball	Jun 2012	OP
for churches that get involved with politics....yes.	spanone	Jun 2012	#1
I agree. If a politician (of either party) is allowed to campaign in a church, its tax-exempt	razorman	Jun 2012	#8
Definitely yes. And if they give their pulpit over to politicians making speeches, Even Bigger YES!	calimary	Jun 2012	#15
Not to mention:	deaniac21	Jun 2012	#19
But how will we know whether a church is involved in politics or even funding	JDPriestly	Jun 2012	#56
Make them file annual reports...	raging_moderate	Jun 2012	#73
I agree, as much as I hate it they all need to lose tax exempt	byoung6	Jun 2012	#79
+1	canuckledragger	Jun 2012	#67
Yes!	LeftofObama	Jun 2012	#2
Yes. n/t	DLevine	Jun 2012	#3
Before November? No. nt	onehandle	Jun 2012	#4
Zappa had iy right...	DontTreadOnMe	Jun 2012	#5
And The Businesses Owned By the Churches!"	hifiguy	Jun 2012	#24
To extend upon your point	exboyfil	Jun 2012	#60
Broadway the hard way!!	Initech	Jun 2012	#42
It was way past time a hundred years ago. n/t	LadyHawkAZ	Jun 2012	#6
Yes!	Iggo	Jun 2012	#142
YES! Tax breaks equal support and establishment. I posit that the 1st A bars tax exemption.	morningfog	Jun 2012	#7
I have always thought that religious exemptions discriminate against athiest.	pennylane100	Jun 2012	#34
I posit that the 1st A bars tax exemption.	AlbertCat	Jun 2012	#50
It has always been considered a violation of the First Amendment.	former9thward	Jun 2012	#80
I am taxed...	awoke_in_2003	Jun 2012	#94
Your income is not protected by the U.S. Constitution.	former9thward	Jun 2012	#95
It has nothing to do with the First Amendment	jberryhill	Jun 2012	#131
Absolutely!	Tom Ripley	Jun 2012	#71
No	JVS	Jun 2012	#9
Yes !!! - K & R !!!	WillyT	Jun 2012	#10
Yes...n/t	orwell	Jun 2012	#11
Don't forget that black churches are powerful Democratic vote producers. n/t	cigsandcoffee	Jun 2012	#12
So, you're saying these churches are political entities?	progressoid	Jun 2012	#23
But if all churches were taxed, that wouldn't stop. n/t	Squinch	Jun 2012	#33
And many black churches in North Carolina contributed to...	WorseBeforeBetter	Jun 2012	#58
It is WAY beyond time that they pay taxes...	truebrit71	Jun 2012	#13
We can't -- not without eliminating the tax exemption for other non-profits.	pnwmom	Jun 2012	#14
Sad to hear that - BUT BUT BUT	truedelphi	Jun 2012	#48
I think the rules is that Churches are free to campaign on the issues,	pnwmom	Jun 2012	#113
But then an individual would have to say - just why	truedelphi	Jun 2012	#148
Good question. n/t	pnwmom	Jun 2012	#161
I have not heard of "isolated incidents"	dems_rightnow	Jun 2012	#176
IRS went in and examined Church records, and denied	truedelphi	Jun 2012	#184
"...'moral or mental improvement,'..."	OriginalGeek	Jun 2012	#112
I don't believe that's what this decision says	Major Nikon	Jun 2012	#166
Maybe. But I got this from the Freedom From Religion Foundation -- not some religious group. n/t	pnwmom	Jun 2012	#167
It's a landmark decision	Major Nikon	Jun 2012	#169
It also means that you can't treat religious non-profits differently than other non-profits. n/t	pnwmom	Jun 2012	#170
Only as the current law is written	Major Nikon	Jun 2012	#171
So we start lobbying congress.	daaron	Jun 2012	#172
I agree	Major Nikon	Jun 2012	#174
If Congress rewrote the law and struck the word religious, they would be discriminating	pnwmom	Jun 2012	#175
Maybe it wouldn't stand.	daaron	Jun 2012	#177
As I said, striking the religious exemption in the tax code doesn't discriminate	Major Nikon	Jun 2012	#180
Church buildings, as opposed to school or other buildings, are different.	pnwmom	Jun 2012	#182
I'm not sure who holds that view	Major Nikon	Jun 2012	#183
Yes. And, the believers should find a deity that isn't broke all the time.	Tierra_y_Libertad	Jun 2012	#16
Heh. Heh.	truedelphi	Jun 2012	#49
Thanks for the laugh.	AnotherMcIntosh	Jun 2012	#145
Yes.....	Swede Atlanta	Jun 2012	#17
Yes.	HopeHoops	Jun 2012	#18
Conditionally, Yes! Plus, amend the parsonage exemption!	longship	Jun 2012	#20
Yes.	alfredo	Jun 2012	#29
Yes. And THIS ^^^^ nt	daaron	Jun 2012	#99
YES!	marsis	Jun 2012	#21
This post was hidden by jury decision.	gratuitous	Jun 2012	#22
Do you have an actual argument to make or is all you have petty insults?	white_wolf	Jun 2012	#26
why even allow religion in the first place?	ileus	Jun 2012	#25
Double the minimum they have to use for Charitable work, and	alfredo	Jun 2012	#27
Yes.	byeya	Jun 2012	#28
Will that allow them to use the pulpit and the collection plates for campaigning? n/t	cynatnite	Jun 2012	#30
That would be my first concern as well. Excellent question.	Adsos Letter	Jun 2012	#152
Absolutely. No politician will touch it though	WhollyHeretic	Jun 2012	#31
She's right.	Egalitarian Thug	Jun 2012	#32
Defninitely "yes."	Doc Holliday	Jun 2012	#35
Nope. Separation of church and state is a fundamental principle.	malthaussen	Jun 2012	#36
It has nothing to do with that	jberryhill	Jun 2012	#132
Remember that any tax exemption = a tax burden for someone else	Major Nikon	Jun 2012	#37
I could go with this	eaglesfanintn	Jun 2012	#62
Not far from where I live, Ken Copeland has a lakefront mansion, private jets, and his own airport	Major Nikon	Jun 2012	#68
Every fair-minded, honest, thinking person would back such an idea.	Marr	Jun 2012	#38
No	badtoworse	Jun 2012	#39
Wow, thanks for the informative post. I am convinced!	Logical	Jun 2012	#189
YES, this should be a POLL!	Logical	Jun 2012	#190
"Do YOU think it's time to end the tax exempt status of churches?"	Eugenian	Jun 2012	#40
Yes	get the red out	Jun 2012	#41
Yes...eom	Magoo48	Jun 2012	#43
Time to tax them	RoccoR5955	Jun 2012	#44
Absolutly !	penndragon69	Jun 2012	#45
Actually	rrHeretic	Jun 2012	#46
That's not a bad idea. nt	DocMac	Jun 2012	#78
Great idea! n/t	truedelphi	Jun 2012	#150
Admit it or not,	rvt1000rr	Jun 2012	#47
churches are businesses.	AlbertCat	Jun 2012	#55
I am not sure	edhopper	Jun 2012	#51
Yes n/t	Lebam in LA	Jun 2012	#52
Absolutely	amuse bouche	Jun 2012	#53
The reason they were exempt in the first place...	Scootaloo	Jun 2012	#54
The Revenue Act of 1954	Riftaxe	Jun 2012	#83
I have always thought that religious organizations should not be tax exempt. n/t	RebelOne	Jun 2012	#57
YES...time was a while ago...	Tikki	Jun 2012	#59
For investments and property not related to actual worship, yes.	Auggie	Jun 2012	#61
Anne Rice is speaking, in part, in response to the role religion played	Ken Burch	Jun 2012	#63
Catholicism has to be one of the weirdest cults out there. And	truedelphi	Jun 2012	#185
NOPE... once you do, you destroy our Separation Between Church and State	fascisthunter	Jun 2012	#64
you destroy our Separation Between Church and State	AlbertCat	Jun 2012	#88
by taxing them, you give them the RIGHT to influence our government	fascisthunter	Jun 2012	#139
How?????	elzenmahn	Jun 2012	#155
Excuse me, we as individuals pay taxes	Ken Burch	Jun 2012	#188
Agreed, for those churches involved in politics.	Ken Burch	Jun 2012	#65
Right after the Bush cuts and billionaire exemptions are repealed.	rug	Jun 2012	#66
AND corporations' tax loopholes are eliminated.	FailureToCommunicate	Jun 2012	#133
Do YOU think it's time to end the tax exempt status of churches?	raisedcatholicvet	Jun 2012	#69
Welcome to DU.	Skinner	Jun 2012	#77
They never should have had that dodge in the first place	Tom Ripley	Jun 2012	#70
Ummm, hell YES! Nt	onlyadream	Jun 2012	#72
Yup!	Plucketeer	Jun 2012	#74
YES!!	Jake2413	Jun 2012	#75
Yes - with no qualifiers. nt	TBF	Jun 2012	#76
Yes.	DemocratsForProgress	Jun 2012	#81
Well past time	HarveyDarkey	Jun 2012	#82
Long Overdue!	LibGranny	Jun 2012	#84
No, the power to tax is the power to destroy. If you tax a church, it is destroyed.	Zalatix	Jun 2012	#85
Either tax them...	MrMickeysMom	Jun 2012	#86
If you thought they were powerful now, tax them and they'll become massively	humblebum	Jun 2012	#105
Oh, I dunno...	MrMickeysMom	Jun 2012	#106
You tax the churches and they will be able to say and do anything they so please	humblebum	Jun 2012	#117
I'm talking about ALL non-profits... not just churches	MrMickeysMom	Jun 2012	#163
This country would crumble without non-profits.nt	humblebum	Jun 2012	#164
That depends on how you define them...	MrMickeysMom	Jun 2012	#168
+ 1000	hughee99	Jun 2012	#143
Nnnnnope.	cherokeeprogressive	Jun 2012	#87
Ummmm......	Coyote_Bandit	Jun 2012	#89
Surprised at Anne Rice quote.	philly_bob	Jun 2012	#90
I believe she left the church again	OriginalGeek	Jun 2012	#116
If they want to play then they should have to pay!!	Historic NY	Jun 2012	#91
Yes, all of them...	awoke_in_2003	Jun 2012	#92
Yep.	lonestarnot	Jun 2012	#93
yes	larwdem	Jun 2012	#96
Yes! n/t	NRaleighLiberal	Jun 2012	#97
Yes....	FarPoint	Jun 2012	#98
They can be tax exempt if they give all their money to the poor	Rosa Luxemburg	Jun 2012	#100
yes	ibegurpard	Jun 2012	#101
Yes	Pakid	Jun 2012	#102
As long as the phrase, In God We Trust, is on our money,	underseasurveyor	Jun 2012	#103
Yes Yes Yes	NOIBN	Jun 2012	#104
Yes and no	The Second Stone	Jun 2012	#107
Yep!!!	WCGreen	Jun 2012	#108
Yes. The abuses have gone way beyond enforceability.	Zorra	Jun 2012	#109
Sliding scale - it depends on the amt of REAL charity work they do.	alittlelark	Jun 2012	#110
Fully tax them	obxhead	Jun 2012	#128
Exactly.	alittlelark	Jun 2012	#140
I've been saying this since the Reagan	ohheckyeah	Jun 2012	#111
Should have been done when the unions were forced to pay taxes.	Hubert Flottz	Jun 2012	#114
End it. Religion is just another business. n/t	D23MIURG23	Jun 2012	#115
Yes, of course.	chollybocker	Jun 2012	#118
Not necessarily. It depends on the church -	lynne	Jun 2012	#119
Have NEVER thought that made any sense	southerncrone	Jun 2012	#120
Yes. Just yes. eom	BlueMTexpat	Jun 2012	#121
Of course. Churches are moneymaking enterprises.	SunSeeker	Jun 2012	#122
Why should those who are not members of the cult have to subsidize those who are?	dinopipie	Jun 2012	#123
+ my household. n/t	truedelphi	Jun 2012	#151
Yes. (nt)	harmonicon	Jun 2012	#124
Absolutely.	Vinca	Jun 2012	#125
another ridiculous fantasy post	cali	Jun 2012	#126
I'm inclined to say "no"	KansDem	Jun 2012	#127
But now you get into Free Speech issues...	elzenmahn	Jun 2012	#158
"Separation of church and state"	KansDem	Jun 2012	#181
Waaaay past time	cbrer	Jun 2012	#129
Ahhh Taxes.... The only part of, separation	FLSurfer	Jun 2012	#130
If you tax churches, you unequivocally give them the right to become politically involved.	ColesCountyDem	Jun 2012	#134
A resounding YES.	99Forever	Jun 2012	#135
Yes, absolutely. I think it's appalling that churches are tax exempt. nt	BlueIris	Jun 2012	#136
tax them	mcgarry50	Jun 2012	#137
Yes, and you can take it one step further. End churches. nt	valerief	Jun 2012	#138
Long past time.	Iggo	Jun 2012	#141
Yes.	shcrane71	Jun 2012	#144
The tax exempt status of the churches...	citizen blues	Jun 2012	#146
Right on...... except for that it's completely wrong.	dems_rightnow	Jun 2012	#179
I think the point about 501c3's is a good one. I think your singling out of Catholics is a bad one.	HiPointDem	Jun 2012	#194
YES. Absolutely. Retroactively.	NAO	Jun 2012	#147
I am for separation of church and state	felix_numinous	Jun 2012	#149
Only for commercial church property	KamaAina	Jun 2012	#153
K&R...	elzenmahn	Jun 2012	#154
They have been completely out of control lately. If they want to preach politics they pay.	Initech	Jun 2012	#156
No	RB TexLa	Jun 2012	#157
I think some revisions or updates to the law	jp11	Jun 2012	#159
There are already rules in place about political activity that apply to all non-profit orgs.	NYC Liberal	Jun 2012	#160
Yes Yes Yes YES!!!!!!!!!!	mzteris	Jun 2012	#162
the right already has far too many wedge issues to use against progressive forces. We don't need any	Douglas Carpenter	Jun 2012	#165
No. The RW fundies are a cornered critter.	daaron	Jun 2012	#173
The vast majority of churches, synagogues, mosques and temples are not right-wing fundamentlist.	Douglas Carpenter	Jun 2012	#186
Call it a shot across the bow, if it makes you feel better.	daaron	Jun 2012	#191
the better suggestion is to build brideges at every opportunity with progressive religious people	Douglas Carpenter	Jun 2012	#192
Douglas	Bohunk68	Jun 2012	#193
I see no reason why both approaches can't be used at the same time.	daaron	Jun 2012	#196
Should have been taken away a long time ago	NotThisTime	Jun 2012	#178
Yes!	sarcasmo	Jun 2012	#187
Logically, maybe. Politically, absolutely not.	onenote	Jun 2012	#195

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