Court: Phelps' Church Must Pay Truck Tax

[proud2BlibKansan]

TOPEKA, Kan. -- A Kansas court has ruled that Westboro Baptist Church has to pay taxes on the truck it uses to travel to protests.

The church frequently pickets military funerals, arguing that the deaths of U.S. troops overseas are part of God's punishment for the nation's tolerance of homosexuality.

The Kansas Court of Appeals ruled Friday that the church's protests were a reflection of religious beliefs, but were also political and secular in nature. The ruling means the 2002 Ford F-150 truck used to drive to protests is taxable.

Shirley Phelps-Roper, a spokeswoman for the church, said the church would appeal the ruling to the Kansas Supreme Court.

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But the county's Board of Tax Appeals found that 40 percent of the picket signs had no religious content, and that merely saying a particular group or individual was a homosexual or supported homosexuals did not constitute religious speech.

The court also noted that many of the church's targets are politicians.

more . . . http://www.kmbc.com/news/16998669/detail.html?rss=kc1&psp=news

[napi21]

1. I heard a lot of churches were watching this verdict because it could

dramatically impact them! I'm glad to see this happen. Maybe this will push them back into their church where they belong!

I was raised in the catholic faith, and went to a Catholic grade school and high school. We were always told that you NEVER say anything political because it could cost the Church their tax exempt status. What the hell happened?

[Monk06]

2. Interesting. If anti homosexual speach is secular and not religeous in nature

as this court seems to have ruled, then
it follows that the gay marriage issue is
a secular issue not a religious one.

Fundies can no longer shield their homophobia
under the guise of constitutionally protected
religious belief.

[ColbertWatcher]

3. That's what I got from it too.

In addition to churches going through their inventory to see what is and isn't used for religious purposes.

Interesting ruling.

[kansasblue]

4. their truck circled the San Francisco city hall for hours...

when they were having gay marriages there.

[spag68]

5. Church and tax

It still drives me nuts trying to figure out why any church has no tax obligation. Some of these groups have commercial enterprises going, also what about increasing property values? What about bingo? Gambling is taxable is it not? Maybe the church and a school bldg. should be exempt, but unless it can be proven to be non-profit, it should pay tax.

[Warpy]

6. Westboro Baptist is especially problematic

because it's a naked tax dodge by old man Phelps whose membership is pretty much limited to the extended Phelps family.

Their status should have been revoked and their books opened decades ago.

It's a SCAM.

[TheMightyFavog]

8. Speaking of scams...

I seem to remember reading somewhere that old man Phelps bilked a bunch of fundraising candy companies out of a bunch of money years ago.

[Wizard777]

9. Congress shall make no law respecting and establishment of religion. Taxes are enacted by law.

Besides it was usually the state that paid taxes or tithes to the church. Then came the first amendment seperating church and state.

[mloutre]

7. YAY!