Fundies: Churches being targeted by tax collectors

[marmar]

from the American Family Assn's OneNewsNow:



Churches being targeted by tax collectors

Charlie Butts - OneNewsNow - 4/1/2009 5:40:00 AM



The Alliance Defense Fund has rescued a Minnesota church from taxation by a county government.

Ramsey County had demanded that 784 churches and nonprofits provide certain documentation or else risk losing their tax-exempt status. Joe Infranco is senior attorney for the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF), which intervened on behalf of Advent Evangelical Lutheran Church.

"There were some vacant pieces of property that the church was using for things like picnics or outdoor events or hiking or youth retreats, and the county seemed to be taking the position that just because you don't put buildings on the property, it's not a valid church use (and) we're going to take it off the tax rolls," he explains.

ADF sued and the Minnesota Tax Court ruled to halt taxes until the case was resolved. The county then settled the case.

Infranco points out the ruling does not mean all the churches will be left untouched. "Well, I think they've reversed themselves in this one case. I don't know that they're not going to try to enforce that against other nonprofits," he admits. "We'll have to see. That's unclear as of now."

He says if other churches find the tax collector knocking at the door, ADF is prepared to intervene if necessary.


http://www.onenewsnow.com/Legal/Default.aspx?id=470742 (or www.afa.net if rickrolled, in the onenewsnow area)

[FiveGoodMen]

1. Based on their political participation, I think a lot of them should be.

[Democrats_win]

2. County governments suck. Still, churches should realize that they have lost a lot of good will.

The saying is, "but for the grace of God, go I."

Who's right in this case? It's really hard to say, but now that false religion is playing hardball with our lives, then they're getting what they deserve.

False religion MUST get out of politics and science. Then maybe they'll get some good will.

[tabbycat31]

3. any church that involves themselves in politics should be

that includes most fundie churches, and the Catholic church as well.

This could fix our deficit easily.

[chollybocker]

4. 'Church' is what money changers call a shell.

Money in, money out, no questions asked.

[TreasonousBastard]

5. Nothing unusual about that. Even here...

our local UU church is constantly getting letters asking what the little blue house is used for, and why is there a playground, and what's that big vacant lawn... Seems like every few months they notice something else, or remember something, that's not "church use."

This has absolutely nothing to so with separation of church and state, so the church haters can STFU and find the exit. This is about ALL nonprofits under the microscope when the towns and counties are trying to balance thier budgets. There's a lot of tax-free land out there, and they would love to tax schools, animal shelters...

And wait till they realize how many tax-free cemetaries are out there-- the dead can't vote.

[tammywammy]

7. Agreed. n/t

[ColbertWatcher]

6. LOL!

[western mass]

8. Hallelujah!

[sakabatou]

9. Someone! Call a WAAAAAAHmbulence!

[donheld]

10. If only

If I had my way they'd get a hefty tax!