Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

OriginalGeek

(12,132 posts)
112. "...'moral or mental improvement,'..."
Sat Jun 2, 2012, 12:51 AM
Jun 2012

I'd argue that "Ain't gonna be no homos in heaven..." is immoral and a detriment to the community at large.


I'm not saying you are wrong - we probably won't ever get to take away churches cushy free ride.

But that don't mean I gotta like it.

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
Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Do YOU think it's time to...»Reply #112