Why Do Religious Groups Get Your Tax Money to Preach and Discriminate?

[xchrom]

http://www.alternet.org/how-religious-organizations-abuse-government-programs-and-duck-taxes



It’s not new for federal and state governments to issue tax breaks and incentives to religious organizations. In fact, George W. Bush and his famous “faith based initiatives” program gave certain religious organizations tax breaks if they performed non-religious duties, followed employment laws, and offered a service not based on a recipient’s religious beliefs.

So, if your religious organization feeds the homeless, does not proselytize to those receiving its services and does not discriminate against employees who do not share the same religious beliefs as the organization, the government may give it a tax incentive for its services.

Unfortunately, this has not always worked out as planned, and neither the Bush nor the Obama administration has taken action regarding the many claims of proselytizing and employee discrimination. Organizations continue to take advantage of both federal and state incentives and often do so while holding those who receive their services and those who work with them to a religious test, or force them to sit through sermons of some kind before offering them the benefits.

One continued offender is Ken Ham’s Creation Museum, a museum that is run by Ham’s evangelical apologist organization Answers in Genesis.

[Zorra]

1. K&R nt

[MNBrewer]

2. Bill Clinton started the tap flowing to these religious programs in his "welfare reform" bill

Clinton opened the door and Bush stepped through it, and Obama has kept the door wide open.

[ReRe]

3. K&R

Front and center for me is the Salvation Army.

And of course, preaching politics from the pulpit.

[Stallion]

4. Unfortunately, its Popular Public Tax Policy

I wish it wasn't

I have some experience with religious tax exemptions and much of it-not all-is nauseating. It definitely needs to be reanalyzed and structured but the political will is not there

[Trillo]

5. Don't Christians themselves call that worshipping Mammon? NT

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

6. Establishment Clause

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.

Whether you interpret that statement as an originalist, papist, feminist, or any other -ist, exempting religious organizations from paying taxes is a clear case of our government "respecting an establishment of religion," precisely what the framers intended to prohibit.

http://taxthechurches.org/