Time to do away with tax exempt status for Churches, All Churches

[BOSSHOG]

If a preacher (religious lunatic advancer of ignorance) wants to exercise his first amendment right and make an ass of himself, thats fine with me. But he should not do so from the pulpit and in a tax exempt status. Period! Now if there was a proposal that all churches will lose their tax exempt status those who behave themselves might do some policing.

If a church wants to jump into the political arena (like many haven't already??) fine and dandy. Give up your tax exempt status.

[Angela Shelley]

1. Agree!

[Ron Green]

2. We need BETTER churches. Do you think taxing them will make them better?

Or just more focused on their exemptions?

[BOSSHOG]

3. If they were BETTER

they wouldn't involve themselves in politics from the pulpit (as they have done for years.) There is a reason they have a tax exempt status. I quit going to church because I got tired of being told every week which group of my fellow Americans I should hate. If ya wanna involve yourself in such nonsense, then pay the dime.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

4. is abortion politics or religion?

is war politics or religion? is poverty a religious or political issue?

the problem is that many of these (and heck MANY others) cross the bounds between religion and politics.

sP

[Ron Green]

5. I agree - pointing out a group to hate

is the LAST thing any spiritual community ought to do. Maybe there could be a tax on divisive policies and an exemption for tolerance.

[Initech]

6. Can I get a fucking AMEN???

I so agree with this. I'm sick of the fact that preachers like John Hagee and Pat Robertson have White House connections (!) and yet are able to get away with preaching politics tax free.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

7. how do you propose to measure church profits?

I can see what you are saying, but what if at the end of the year, the church shows no profit? How would you determine profit? Is raising money for a newer larger building a profit? what about raising money for mission trips? to pay staff? are those things profit?

this is bigger than you think...and harder to deal with. not to mention it will NEVER fly in this country.

sP