Instead of confronting protestors with a police presence, just send IRS lawyers to each protest with a stack of tax bills for each parish and diocese that is participating.

If you're going to use the pulpit to gin up votes, then you better look like paying some farking taxes.

Remember when Kennedy was running for President and all teh Republicans said that he'd just be taking orders from Rome and therefore, shouldn't be President?

Here they are a few decades later saying that Obama shouldn't be President because the government isn't taking orders from Rome

Diogenes: In late January, priests in scores of churches across the country read letters from the pulpit urging congregants to contact members of Congress to oppose the new rule.

Larry Cirignano, a Catholic activist, said evangelical groups such as the Christian Coalition had sent out direct mail to raise money to push back against the Obama administration.

And speaking of encroachment.

When do these political organizations lose their tax exempt status?

barneyfifesbullet: Obama has is going to lose Florida anyway.

He can thank Al Sharpton and the Black Panthers.

True, that probably hurt his FL numbers.

Obama doing well in Florida

Barack Obama starts the general election with a 5 point advantage over Mitt Romney in Florida, 50-45. This is the biggest lead Obama's had in Florida over the course of five polls PPP's done in the state since the beginning of 2011.

Or not.

Elandriel: MaudlinMutantMollusk: Diogenes: In late January, priests in scores of churches across the country read letters from the pulpit urging congregants to contact members of Congress to oppose the new rule.

Larry Cirignano, a Catholic activist, said evangelical groups such as the Christian Coalition had sent out direct mail to raise money to push back against the Obama administration.

And speaking of encroachment.

When do these political organizations lose their tax exempt status?

After the election, if ever. There is zero chance that Obama would make a single move against religions using the church as a political tool. Not before the election for certain, because you can just see the media running with the "Obama comes out against churches" angle and obfuscate the details of the situation. If he wants to lose the election, that is what he should do. Otherwise, maybe wait until the election is over, and assuming he wins bring out all the evidence saying "Such and such church used its influence for political purposes, they will be taxed henceforth."

Yeah... rhetorical question
It pisses me off that churches can get away with being overtly political and still flaunt their tax-free status. If they want to be political, then pay the same ticket price the rest of us do.

Shostie: I'm Catholic. I will very likely vote for Obama unless it turns out that he's a Reptloid.

And even then, might end up as a coin flip.

It would make for a much more interesting election.

"TUESDAY, TUESDAY, TUESDAY! Come see RomneyBot 3000 battle Reptobama in a smack down royale for the soul of the country! He's got circuits and a capacity to dispatch his challengers with cold, emotionless precision. He's got an impenetrable armor of scales capable of deflecting the most ridiculous and withering assault, and a forked tongue that will charm you as it indoctrinates you with his liberal ideals."

Go ahead US Council of Catholic Bishops.

Go and protest women having access to health care. Do it.

Bhasayate: This thread has many enlightening comments, balanced discussion of the issues, and I have learned so much from the many posts. Cheers all around. Another great farking learning experience.

Reading trollery is always a learning experience. Proxy fights by trolling predators helps cull the rational argumentary herd of slower members so that the stronger can flourish even beyond Fark's borders. Trolls are doing a service to mankind by making us all smarter by allowing us to experience reductio ad absurdum vicariously.

If you can recognize logical fallacies, Thank a Troll!

EWreckedSean: chaoswolf: EWreckedSean: chaoswolf: EWreckedSean: Actually it will. Catholicism especially involves the following of sacraments, which require church infrastructure outside of praying alone in your room.

Then the priest can get off of his fat, lazy, kiddie-diddling ass and go to your house to help you with your symbolic cannibalism.

What priest? You've eliminated the church infrastructure, which includes the priests.

Bullshiat. Taxing a church on its profits will not in ANY way eliminate the church's infrastructure. If a church can't survive off of its tithes then it's a worthless business model and the free market will deal with it accordingly. Forcing it to pay taxes as any other business doesn't change that fact.

What profits exactly? Which part of non-profit organization is confusing to you?

What helping the poor might look like:



No profit at all...

Lord_Baull: PRAYING IN YOUR ROOM IS STILL THE ABILITY TO WORSHIP THE GOD OF YOUR CHOICE, IDIOT!
In fact, Jesus said quite clearly that's how it should be done anyways.

No it isn't. I know a lot of people like to argue it is, but that wasn't the point of that admonition if you read the entirety of the passage, not just cherry picked that quote up, and I don't think for a second you actually have read that. You probably cribbed it from the countless times it has been parroted and tucked it away, but the whole point of that famous sermon had to do with how God knows true piety from false showings of piety done by people wanting to make a big show to others. He was not saying, "Thou shalt never pray in public." It's a pretty shallow interpretation of that passage. If you continue reading, Jesus goes on to lead the crowd in what is known by some as "The Lord's Prayer." ("Our father...") You're wrong, and it's a completely ignorant notion.

Oh, look, it's a thread about Catholics on FARK.

I might add that Obama won New York with a 26.9 % margin. NY is over 40% Catholic.

Florida--only 26% Catholic, won by Obama in 2008
Ohio--only 21% Catholic, won by Obama in 2008
Colorado--only 19% Catholic, won by Obama in 2008
Iowa--23% Catholic, won by Obama in 2008

Any other deeply burning concerns you would like to voice?

GAT_00: ginandbacon: GAT_00: And yet I keep hearing that Catholics here are progressive and don't listen to Rome.

You're as bad as the Fundies.

Don't confuse the Bishops with the laity.

What's the big difference?

The laity is very liberal/progressive on social issues and the Bishops are decidedly not. Both of them have a basic commitment to not ramping up defense spending and increasing spending on things like education and health care, but the laity tends to be way ahead of the Bishops on issues like women's reproductive health, rights for the LBGT community, and the rights of women within the Church.

Individual Catholic voters are not represented by the USCCB in terms of their political views. But most Catholics will not speak out in public against the Bishops. It's sort of considered tacky. That doesn't mean their vote comes from the pulpit on Sunday. Catholics are one of the least obedient congregations.

Dusk-You-n-Me: Link

Well that was interesting.

"51% of the public say that religious conservatives have too much control over the Republican Party."

"Since 2010, there have been sizable increases in the percentages of white mainline Protestants, white Catholics and the religiously unaffiliated saying that there has been too much discussion of religion by political leaders."

And most significantly: "A majority of Americans (54%) say that churches and other houses of worship should keep out of political matters, while 40% say they should express their views on social and political questions. After a decade in which the balance of opinion tilted in the opposite direction, this is the third consecutive survey in the past four years in which more people say churches should keep out of politics than say churches should express their views on social and political issues."

Keep farking that clucker.

GAT_00: And yet I keep hearing that Catholics here are progressive and don't listen to Rome.

You're as bad as the Fundies.

Don't confuse the Bishops with the laity.

ginandbacon: Diogenes: In late January, priests in scores of churches across the country read letters from the pulpit urging congregants to contact members of Congress to oppose the new rule.

Larry Cirignano, a Catholic activist, said evangelical groups such as the Christian Coalition had sent out direct mail to raise money to push back against the Obama administration.

And speaking of encroachment.

You're not suggesting that religious bodies that actively engage in politicking should, I don't know, have to pay taxes, are you?

I'm suggesting they politely shut the fark up. And take a moment to appreciate how the separation clause is there to protect them and their interests as much as it is to insulate our governance from theocrats.

If that fails, then taxes.

Diogenes: In late January, priests in scores of churches across the country read letters from the pulpit urging congregants to contact members of Congress to oppose the new rule.

Larry Cirignano, a Catholic activist, said evangelical groups such as the Christian Coalition had sent out direct mail to raise money to push back against the Obama administration.

And speaking of encroachment.

You're not suggesting that religious bodies that actively engage in politicking should, I don't know, have to pay taxes, are you?

In late January, priests in scores of churches across the country read letters from the pulpit urging congregants to contact members of Congress to oppose the new rule.

Larry Cirignano, a Catholic activist, said evangelical groups such as the Christian Coalition had sent out direct mail to raise money to push back against the Obama administration.

And speaking of encroachment.

Aarontology: Go and protest women having access to health care. Do it.

And especially make sure you admonish the 98% of Catholic women that will use birth control in their lifetimes. That'll be sure to help.

Aarontology: Go ahead US Council of Catholic Bishops.

Go and protest women having access to health care. Do it.

Bring it. Seriously.