General Discussion

KamaAina

(78,249 posts)

153. Only for commercial church property

Reply to Playinghardball (Original post)

Sat Jun 2, 2012, 03:00 PM

Jun 2012

one large denomination based in Utah, for instance, owns that state's dominant department store chain, its leading newspaper, and its NBC affiliate.

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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

Post removed Post removed 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