Should the US Catholic Church be stripped of its tax-exempt status?

Guinan

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Do you think these bishops are politically weaponizing the Eucharist?

Article excerpt: California Democrat suggests Catholic church should be stripped of tax-exempt status if it denies Biden communion:

A Democratic congressman from California has said that the Catholic church should have their tax-free status revoked if they decide President Joe Biden should not be able to take Communion.

The comment from Rep Jared Huffman comes after a recent US Conference of Catholic Bishops vote on 18 June to begin the process to deny Mr. Biden the ability to take Communion. 73% of US bishops voted for the motion, which was to share a full description of the sacrament of the Eucharist.

Mr. Huffman wrote on Twitter,
“If they’re going to politically weaponize religion by ‘rebuking’ Democrats who support women’s reproductive choice, then a ‘rebuke’ of their tax-exempt status may be in order.”

<<<end of excerpt>>>

For the record, the Vatican warned these US Bishops about denying Biden communion.

According to this Pew Research Poll, 67% of US Catholics think that Biden's abortion views should not disqualify him from communion. So, what are your thoughts on this issue? Please be civil.
 
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BBAS 64

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What are your thoughts on this story?

Do you think these bishops are politically weaponizing the Eucharist?

Article excerpt: California Democrat suggests Catholic church should be stripped of tax-exempt status if it denies Biden communion:

A Democratic congressman from California has said that the Catholic church should have their tax-free status revoked if they decide President Joe Biden should not be able to take Communion.

The comment from Rep Jared Huffman comes after a recent US Conference of Catholic Bishops vote on 18 June to begin the process to deny Mr. Biden the ability to take Communion. Seventy-three per cent of US bishops voted for the motion, which was to share a full description of the sacrament of the Eucharist. Mr. Huffman wrote on Twitter, “If they’re going to politically weaponize religion by ‘rebuking’ Democrats who support women’s reproductive choice, then a ‘rebuke’ of their tax-exempt status may be in order.”
<<<end of excerpt>>>

According to this Pew Research Poll, 67% of US Catholics think that Biden's abortion views should not disqualify him from communion. So, what are your thoughts on this issue? Please be civil.


Good day,

I am not a member of the Roman Church.... lets get that off the table.

Joe Biden in his Baptism and confirmation in the Roman Church is a member if that Church. The Church has the right and the authority to determine who and under what circumstances it will commune with it's members.

The Roman Church also by proclamation of it's own infallible rules on morals and faith as the rights to bind the conscience of their members. The Church by extension has the right to enact discipline as it see fit they freely exercise that when they deem necessary up to and including excommunication ( publicly) of it's members.

It is not politically at all.... even though Vatican City has a political wing to it.

As seen here: Vatican wants changes to Italy draft law against homophobia

Snip.... "The Vatican believes that the law as currently written violates the 1929 Lateran Pacts, which established Vatican City as a sovereign state and regulates relations between it and Italy."

Not sure it is the right thing for Italy or the United States (if we have any) to violate pacts made with the Vatican.

In Him,

Bill
 
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Guinan

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Frankly, they should have lost their tax exempt status (at the very least) when it was revealed that they were actively protecting the child abusing degenerates in their midst.

That's a different subject entirely and while I share your disgust about the Catholic Church's sex abuse scandal, let's not distract from the topic at hand. I'd like to stay focused on the OP topic in my thread.
 
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pescador

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What are your thoughts on this story?

Do you think these bishops are politically weaponizing the Eucharist?

Article excerpt: California Democrat suggests Catholic church should be stripped of tax-exempt status if it denies Biden communion:

A Democratic congressman from California has said that the Catholic church should have their tax-free status revoked if they decide President Joe Biden should not be able to take Communion.

The comment from Rep Jared Huffman comes after a recent US Conference of Catholic Bishops vote on 18 June to begin the process to deny Mr. Biden the ability to take Communion. 73% of US bishops voted for the motion, which was to share a full description of the sacrament of the Eucharist.

Mr. Huffman wrote on Twitter,
“If they’re going to politically weaponize religion by ‘rebuking’ Democrats who support women’s reproductive choice, then a ‘rebuke’ of their tax-exempt status may be in order.”

<<<end of excerpt>>>

For the record, the Vatican warned these US Bishops about denying Biden communion.

According to this Pew Research Poll, 67% of US Catholics think that Biden's abortion views should not disqualify him from communion. So, what are your thoughts on this issue? Please be civil.

While I think it's ridiculous to deny President Biden, a Catholic, communion, they shouldn't have their tax-exempt status removed. The First Amendment clearly states that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
 
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seeking.IAM

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I am a political liberal, non-Catholic Biden supporter. I don't agree with Catholic Bishops denying the Eucharist in this instance. Nonetheless, I think it's their beliefs, their church, & their rules which they have a right to enforce for their adherents. So, no, the Catholic Church should not be stripped of its tax exempt status in my opinion. I don't agree with what they are doing but it is well within their right to do it.
 
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civilwarbuff

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What are your thoughts on this story?

Do you think these bishops are politically weaponizing the Eucharist?

Article excerpt: California Democrat suggests Catholic church should be stripped of tax-exempt status if it denies Biden communion:

A Democratic congressman from California has said that the Catholic church should have their tax-free status revoked if they decide President Joe Biden should not be able to take Communion.

The comment from Rep Jared Huffman comes after a recent US Conference of Catholic Bishops vote on 18 June to begin the process to deny Mr. Biden the ability to take Communion. 73% of US bishops voted for the motion, which was to share a full description of the sacrament of the Eucharist.

Mr. Huffman wrote on Twitter,
“If they’re going to politically weaponize religion by ‘rebuking’ Democrats who support women’s reproductive choice, then a ‘rebuke’ of their tax-exempt status may be in order.”

<<<end of excerpt>>>

For the record, the Vatican warned these US Bishops about denying Biden communion.

According to this Pew Research Poll, 67% of US Catholics think that Biden's abortion views should not disqualify him from communion. So, what are your thoughts on this issue? Please be civil.

So much for Jefferson's 'wall of separation between church and state'........
Mr. Huffman wrote on Twitter,
“If they’re going to politically weaponize religion by ‘rebuking’ Democrats who support women’s reproductive choice, then a ‘rebuke’ of their tax-exempt status may be in order.”
Mr Huffman is an idiot. The RCC is not 'rebuking democrats' but rather are rebuking fellow Catholics who are democrats who support abortion. The remainder of his faction has nothing to fear from the RCC.......
 
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What are your thoughts on this story?

Do you think these bishops are politically weaponizing the Eucharist?

Article excerpt: California Democrat suggests Catholic church should be stripped of tax-exempt status if it denies Biden communion:

A Democratic congressman from California has said that the Catholic church should have their tax-free status revoked if they decide President Joe Biden should not be able to take Communion.

The comment from Rep Jared Huffman comes after a recent US Conference of Catholic Bishops vote on 18 June to begin the process to deny Mr. Biden the ability to take Communion. 73% of US bishops voted for the motion, which was to share a full description of the sacrament of the Eucharist.

Mr. Huffman wrote on Twitter,
“If they’re going to politically weaponize religion by ‘rebuking’ Democrats who support women’s reproductive choice, then a ‘rebuke’ of their tax-exempt status may be in order.”

<<<end of excerpt>>>

For the record, the Vatican warned these US Bishops about denying Biden communion.

According to this Pew Research Poll, 67% of US Catholics think that Biden's abortion views should not disqualify him from communion. So, what are your thoughts on this issue? Please be civil.

1. The bishops are not "weaponizing" the Eucharist. Their motives are not political. They are supporting Catholic teaching on faith and morals.

2. The Catholic Church should not lose its tax exempt status and it won't. An idle threat made by a politician has no value at all.
 
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stevil

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What are your thoughts on this story?

Do you think these bishops are politically weaponizing the Eucharist?
"weaponizing the Eucharist" - no idea
But with regards to the title of this thread.
Personally I don't think religious organisations should be deemed tax exempt.
The bits that they end up actually supporting people (that could be considered Charity) sure.
But the rest, no.
Churches are big money making businesses.
If they want some tax exempt stuff they should open their books and show how it has gone to charity.
 
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hislegacy

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What are your thoughts on this story?

Do you think these bishops are politically weaponizing the Eucharist?

Article excerpt: California Democrat suggests Catholic church should be stripped of tax-exempt status if it denies Biden communion:

A Democratic congressman from California has said that the Catholic church should have their tax-free status revoked if they decide President Joe Biden should not be able to take Communion.

The comment from Rep Jared Huffman comes after a recent US Conference of Catholic Bishops vote on 18 June to begin the process to deny Mr. Biden the ability to take Communion. 73% of US bishops voted for the motion, which was to share a full description of the sacrament of the Eucharist.

Mr. Huffman wrote on Twitter,
“If they’re going to politically weaponize religion by ‘rebuking’ Democrats who support women’s reproductive choice, then a ‘rebuke’ of their tax-exempt status may be in order.”

<<<end of excerpt>>>

For the record, the Vatican warned these US Bishops about denying Biden communion.

According to this Pew Research Poll, 67% of US Catholics think that Biden's abortion views should not disqualify him from communion. So, what are your thoughts on this issue? Please be civil.

This is the best answer:

Joe Biden in his Baptism and confirmation in the Roman Church is a member if that Church. The Church has the right and the authority to determine who and under what circumstances it will commune with it's members.

I don't think the government should interfere with how a religious organization makes its decisions. The exception would be if the actions are illegal.
 
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Clare73

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What are your thoughts on this story?

Do you think these bishops are politically weaponizing the Eucharist?

Article excerpt: California Democrat suggests Catholic church should be stripped of tax-exempt status if it denies Biden communion:

A Democratic congressman from California has said that the Catholic church should have their tax-free status revoked if they decide President Joe Biden should not be able to take Communion.

The comment from Rep Jared Huffman comes after a recent US Conference of Catholic Bishops vote on 18 June to begin the process to deny Mr. Biden the ability to take Communion. 73% of US bishops voted for the motion, which was to share a full description of the sacrament of the Eucharist.

Mr. Huffman wrote on Twitter,
“If they’re going to politically weaponize religion by ‘rebuking’ Democrats who support women’s reproductive choice, then a ‘rebuke’ of their tax-exempt status may be in order.”

<<<end of excerpt>>>

For the record, the Vatican warned these US Bishops about denying Biden communion.

According to this Pew Research Poll, 67% of US Catholics think that Biden's abortion views should not disqualify him from communion. So, what are your thoughts on this issue? Please be civil.
It should not, nor should any other church lose its tax exemption.

The power to tax is the power to govern.

Freedom of religion means that the state does not govern the church.
 
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grasping the after wind

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What are your thoughts on this story?

Do you think these bishops are politically weaponizing the Eucharist?

Article excerpt: California Democrat suggests Catholic church should be stripped of tax-exempt status if it denies Biden communion:

A Democratic congressman from California has said that the Catholic church should have their tax-free status revoked if they decide President Joe Biden should not be able to take Communion.

The comment from Rep Jared Huffman comes after a recent US Conference of Catholic Bishops vote on 18 June to begin the process to deny Mr. Biden the ability to take Communion. 73% of US bishops voted for the motion, which was to share a full description of the sacrament of the Eucharist.

Mr. Huffman wrote on Twitter,
“If they’re going to politically weaponize religion by ‘rebuking’ Democrats who support women’s reproductive choice, then a ‘rebuke’ of their tax-exempt status may be in order.”

<<<end of excerpt>>>

For the record, the Vatican warned these US Bishops about denying Biden communion.

According to this Pew Research Poll, 67% of US Catholics think that Biden's abortion views should not disqualify him from communion. So, what are your thoughts on this issue? Please be civil.

If the government taxes the Church, the Church becomes subservient to the government and the separation that the First Amendment calls for no longer exists and the freedom to express an opinion that the First Amendment calls for is no longer available to the religious community if the government can silence the Church through such coercive measures.
 
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seeking.IAM

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Why are churches making a net profit anyway?

Seems like their gross receipts should match gross outlays, and if there's a surplus, give it away.

A common misunderstanding. Not-for-profits are not prohibited from making profits. It means they have no shareholders or owners with whom profits are to be shared. Surplus is the correct word, and it can be used to fund research & development, new program initiatives, business expansion, fund an endowment, etc. It can be retained for the benefit of the mission of the NFP and need not be donated to others.

There is also an issue of donor intent. The people who gave money that surplus chose to support that NFP's mission, not to support the mission of some other entity to whom the NFP donates to. If you give to support cancer research because that is a passion of yours, you don't expect your money to be passed through to a homeless shelter.
 
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A common misunderstanding. Not-for-profits are not prohibited from making profits. It means they have no shareholders or owners with whom profits are to be shared. Surplus is the correct word, and it can be used to fund research & development, new program initiatives, business expansion, fund an endowment, etc. It can be retained for the benefit of the mission of the NFP and need not be donated to others.

There is also an issue of donor intent. The people who gave money that surplus chose to support that NFP's mission, not to support the mission of some other entity to whom the NFP donates to. If you give to support cancer research because that is a passion of yours, you don't expect your money to be passed through to a homeless shelter.
The donor intent problem can easily be solved by just announcing up front which charities would get operational surpluses. Then expectations are clear.

My main concern is that for all the individual vows of poverty, the institution has a long long history of ostentatious displays of wealth and power. Its made for some pretty things for tourists to look at. But I cant help notice that the institution seems exceeding self-serving, which was only reinforced by the scandalous covering up of abusive clergy.
 
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