Trump thinks Scientology should lose tax-exempt status

[Rion]

Trump thinks Scientology should lose tax-exempt status

 

[High Fidelity]

It should. All religions should.

Churches receive something like 70-80 billion dollars a year in subsidies and don't pay tax... and people want to cut welfare?

 

[Rion]

It should. All religions should.

Churches receive something like 70-80 billion dollars a year in subsidies and don't pay tax... and people want to cut welfare?

It's not a religion.

 

[Rescued One]

Welfare is abused by many of those who receive it.

 

[rturner76]

I think President Trump must not be clear about the powers of his office if he thinks he is entitled to revoke individual entities tax-exempt status. Will he also then be able to order an audit of whomever he chooses? He should be informed he was neither elected king or emperor.

 

[Rion]

I think President Trump must not be clear about the powers of his office if he thinks he is entitled to revoke individual entities tax-exempt status. Will he also then be able to order an audit of whomever he chooses? He should be informed he was neither elected king or emperor.

They actually only got this status during the Clinton era, and under questionable circumstances. This is one thing I'm actually for. If you've studied Scientology you'd know that it isn't a religion at all, but a money making cult that perpetuates massive amounts of suffering and abuse. There's a reason it's banned in a lot of countries.

 

[rturner76]

They actually only got this status during the Clinton era, and under questionable circumstances. This is one thing I'm actually for. If you've studied Scientology you'd know that it isn't a religion at all, but a money making cult that perpetuates massive amounts of suffering and abuse. There's a reason it's banned in a lot of countries.

I don't doubt their methods and motives are as you say however, it is up to the former members to bring a case to the IRS. I'm sure that the President can alert the IRSs and possibly influence them to investigate just based on the weight of the office making the call and the fear that provokes but The President can't instruct the IRS to take away their status legally. At least I am unaware that he holds unilateral power to make decisions on individual cases within the IRS. I do concede that he does have the power to pardon someone for a crime so he does have a lot of power.

 

[Hank77]

It's not a religion.

I agree. Scientology has less of a resemblance to a religion than Wicca does.

 

[Rion]

I don't doubt their methods and motives are as you say however, it is up to the former members to bring a case to the IRS.

...you really don't know about scientology do you? I don't say that as a slight, either. You really need to look into the group.

 

[redleghunter]

It's not a religion.

It's a cult.

 

[LadyKay]

He should be informed he was neither elected king or emperor.

LOL! I like that. That is a good one!

 

[FireDragon76]

Despite the fact I think scientology is a spiritually abusive cult, on principle I am against this because it's not in the government's interest to try to figure out what is, and is not, a legitimate religion. That takes us down a very dangerous road where our freedom of religion could be at stake.

 

[compassion 4 humanity]

While I don’t know much about Scientology, I will say this: I favor discrimination against Satanists who want tax exemptions. Christians should be given tax-exempt status, but adherents of the Church of Satan shouldn’t. It is necessary to discriminate against Satanists because they belong to the Devil.

 

[rturner76]

...you really don't know about scientology do you? I don't say that as a slight, either. You really need to look into the group.

I understand who they are and what they do. It is a science fiction mind control cult where you move up in rank based on the "lessons" that you have purchased. At least that's whet my understanding is. It's not about what they do or believe in, it's more about who's job is who's. The Prez doesn't need to take an interest in individual IRS cases, he should be more concerned with the laws and policies of the nation as a whole.

 

[Rion]

I understand who they are and what they do. It is a science fiction mind control cult where you move up in rank based on the "lessons" that you have purchased. At least that's whet my understanding is. It's not about what they do or believe in, it's more about who's job is who's. The Prez doesn't need to take an interest in individual IRS cases, he should be more concerned with the laws and policies of the nation as a whole.

I am talking about why people don't come forward

Fair Game (Scientology) - Wikipedia

 

[Hank77]

It should. All religions should.

Churches receive something like 70-80 billion dollars a year in subsidies and don't pay tax... and people want to cut welfare?

I don't totally disagree with you and this is because of the ridiculous amounts of donations that never get used for the intent of spreading the gospel or helping the poor.

If churches had to keep accurate accounting records they could receive deductions for legitimate ministries but not for 25,000 sq. ft. homes, private air fields, more than one luxury car, boats, etc.

If the pastor or founder is an author any income from his/her writings are his own personal income and cannot be mixed in with the church's income.

 

[webslave]

Good. So should megachurches like Hillsong and C3, extremist mosques, or any church that makes a political statement. Governments spend billions of dollars on subsidies for religious organizations, including folks that run megachurches like Phil Pringle that have been able to build $15 million empires without paying a cent of taxation in their entire life. In economics speak, subsidies for megachurches is a misallocation of resources, that could instead be spent on local industry or getting rid of company tax.

That being said, I don't mind subsidies for smaller churches, but megachurches that are run like businesses should be paying tax like any other business.

 

[LadyKay]

It should. All religions should.

Churches receive something like 70-80 billion dollars a year in subsidies and don't pay tax... and people want to cut welfare?

Churches are tax except because they are suppose to be non-prophet. They are not suppose to take in money for the sake of turning a prophet and getting rich. The church is suppose to reach out into the community and offer aid and support to people in need. As my pastor explain to us one Sunday. The church because of its tax-except is obligated to help the needy in the community. Taking the burden off the government and the tax payer. Perhaps some churches do not follow this. Something they will have to explain to God when the time comes. But that is the ideal behind tax except for the church.

 

[High Fidelity]

Churches are tax except because they are suppose to be non-prophet. They are not suppose to take in money for the sake of turning a prophet and getting rich. The church is suppose to reach out into the community and offer aid and support to people in need. As my pastor explain to us one Sunday. The church because of its tax-except is obligated to help the needy in the community. Taking the burden off the government and the tax payer. Perhaps some churches do not follow this. Something they will have to explain to God when the time comes. But that is the ideal behind tax except for the church.

Sadly isn't the case in most cases. Christian/religious charities are also some of the absolute worst for money actually getting to where it's needed.

 

[JCFantasy23]

It would depend on the situation - The churches I go to are struggling financially and small, and do a lot of charity work and donation to the local homeless shelter and other communities.

There are mega churches out there that rake in the cash.

including folks that run megachurches like Phil Pringle that have been able to build $15 million empires without paying a cent of taxation in their entire life.

I don't think Churches should lose their tax exemption status (they are not a business, despite receiving tithes and such), and it only applies to the church as a building and organization, not individual pastors. If he is somehow manipulating it further than that, then he's skating on thin ground.