Tax the churches

Tax the businesses owned by the churches

Fark 'em

didnt read article today but believe 3 out of 4 non-profits who were suspected of violating violated.

Where's Rick Romero when you need him?

FINE THEM!!! FINE THEM ALL!!

Hang the farkers high, I say.

/not all of them, just the farkers
//strangled with entrails of last priest, etc., etc., can't be bothered to type the whole quote

Fine 'em, but only if they supported George W. Bush.

/ducks and covers

Let churches be tax free.. they can do as they please as long as they stay out of politics. IF they do get involved, then their tax free status ends forever and they start paying like everyone else and they can have their say. better yet, make all taxes which must be paid retroactive to the day the law was put in effect..

you're religion is fine, just keep it the fark out of my government

/goes for any country

I predict flames.

Tax them or shut them down. Or even better, garnishee them for back taxes as well.

Churches need to stay out of politics, period.

Only three out of Four?.. amazing.. would have thought they would make 100%

I went to church to get my edumication at sunday school, Jebus taught me how to spelt.

skleenar

Where's Rick Romero when you need him?

Investigating what the "IRS" is/does and its relevence to you.

We've got some asshat in central ohio named Rod Parsley that basically runs a cult of a church. (World Harvest is the name of the place). He's a huge supporter of Kenneth Blackwell who is a Republican nominee for our governor. There was an article in our Columbus Dispatch about him and some asshat in Lancaster that were reported to the IRS by OTHER CHURCH OFFICIALS because of their political contributions. They're nothing more than a lobby with tax exempt status.

If Blackwell wins, Ohio will be more farked up than it already is. If anyone lives in New England, please send me some real estate listings.

/Theocracies are so 1500's.
//Noone expects the Ohio Inquisition.
///Friday Slashie.

Is there an actual 'policy' concerning their tax-free status?

Yes, they can't be political. They can make their stance on a particular issue clear (like being pro-life), but they can't campaign for a particular candidate.

Even one of their own (some guy with long hair and a lot of crazy ideas... he drove a blue car) told them to render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's.

Alternate, more accurate posting by Zaz: Spin spin spin, nothing to see here, don't look at this, it doesn't mean anything, nobody pay attention, even though this article does have relevance to our current political climate.

If they get into politics, tax them, and fine them punitively, maybe something like 10 years of back taxes. I think there should be a harsh fine as a deterrent to keep churches out of politics completely.

meekychuppet
I predict flames.

i totally agree.

tax 'em? fark that! burn 'em!

/pat robertson should be assassinated, while we're at it

"Among the prohibited activities, the examiners found that charities and churches had distributed printed material supporting a preferred candidate and assembled improper voter guides or candidate ratings.

Religious leaders had used the pulpit to endorse or oppose a particular candidate, and some groups had shown preferential treatment to candidates by letting them speak at functions."

When the IRS comes calling, you can bet we'll hear cries of "Separation of Church and State" from any church about to be parted with its cash.

You'd think we had learnt from Europe's harmonius blending of church and state combined in the divine right of kings.

Churches... what a monumental waste of time, energy and money. They should be taxed double.

/lottery tickets are a MUCH better investment that tithing - talk about a 'stupid tax'...

I've said it before and I'll say it again: No religious institutions should be tax exempt, it only encourages them.

philwz: Churches need to stay out of politics, period.

I disagree. I see no reason why a Church should stay out of politics -- if a particular candidate opposes tenets of the Church, why should they have to keep quiet about it?

I say let 'em speak. I also say they should be taxed like everyone else.

PoopsMcGhee

Real estate is so out of control in New England right now, I think that you need to pay to get listings.

That said, give me $3K and I'll put you in touch with the realtor selling the 4BR condo next door to me in Waltham. :)

The last thing you need is a man in a dress telling you who to vote for.

can someone explain exactly why churches and charities are tax exempt? it doesn't make sense to me that they're tax exempt and when you donate to them (up to a certain amount) the government refunds you that money? A gives to B. C gives to A. But B never gives to C?

B is making out like a bandit.

Yah jebus needs to pay just like the rest of us. They have the money to build those giant abominations they can sure as hell find the money to pay the taxes...

There is a BMW around here with the license plate "GODSCAR"

Cue the whiney martyrs....

submitter needs to RTFA - of those churches SUSPECTED to have violated the law, 75% were ACTUALLY found to have been in violation. This is WAY different than 3 of 4 churches violating.

Well, then revoke the tax-exempt status of 3 out of 4 churches. Nothing so hard about that.

Quick somebody post the pictures of Gore and Bush speaking at churchs.

/Just want to go ahead and get it out of the way.

TheNewJesus

Please tell me you are kidding about that plate. Jesus would have walked or maybe taken the bus if he were in a hurry.

Or, of course, let churches get into politics as much as they want, but make them pay taxes.

So, the real story here is that the IRS was right 75% of the time they suspected someone was doing something wrong?

I always pictured Jesus driving one of those VW buses.

Headline is totally wrong and inflamitory, it should be removed. 3 out of 4 churches ACCUSED of improper acts were guilty.

Churches have a tax exempt status for a reason, their sole purpose is not to get involved in elections every 4 years. Every day many churches do a lot of good for people and that is why they have that status.

I dont think churches should get involved in politics but dont remove tax exempt status from all of them.