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To: Steve Lokness who wrote (24519)

8/22/2012 3:20:36 PM

From: Jorj X Mckie

Read Replies (1) | Respond to of 85487

I have an answer as to why we shouldn't tax churches. If we tax churches, then they have less to give to their health care operations and charities that actually do some good.

615 Catholic hospitals account for 12.5% of community hospitals in the United States, and over 15.5% of all U.S. hospital admissions. Catholic health care systems and hospitals are present in all 50 states. As a provider, employer, advocate, and citizen - bringing together people of diverse faiths and backgrounds - Catholic health care is rooted in the belief that every person is a treasure, every life a sacred gift, every human being a unity of body, mind and spirit

Did you know?

In addition to hospitals, the Catholic health care network also includes 404 health care centers and 1,509 specialized homes.

In 20 states, Catholic health care facilities account for more than 20% of admissions.

Catholic hospitals employ over 598,934 full-time equivalent employees (FTEs).

In 2005, there were more than 15.4 million emergency room visits and more than 86 million outpatient visits in Catholic hospitals.

In 2005, the number of Catholic residential homes for children, or orphanages, totaled 235, serving a total of 50,264 young people.
nccbuscc.org

To: Steve Lokness who wrote (24519)	8/22/2012 4:47:31 PM
From: TimF	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 85487

Why the hell shouldn't they have to pay the VAT or sales tax? Practical reason - The churches can take some of charitable/support of the poor burden off the government. Traditional principle - Separation of Church and State. If they don't they continue to be subsidized.* Neither not paying tax, nor benefiting from general public goods, is a subsidy. Neither amounts to resources flowing from the government to the church. If there are any actual subsidies, government funding of religious activity (not contracted out charity or general eduction, but funding of religious activities, or funds not specific to the above purposes going to the organization), then I would oppose such subsidies on a number of grounds (government entanglement with religion being the main one, but also I'd oppose the subsidies for the same reason I oppose almost any subsidies, the economic distortions and empowerment of government that come with such subsidies) If your church doesn't have to pay, then neither of course does mine which worships butterflies. The idea doesn't only apply to large old churches. As a practical matter the IRS might look over new churches a bit more at first, to see that they are really churches, but they are covered by the tax exclusions and the more general principle of separation of church and state as well. ------ * - Not as many people think actually part of the constitution, the constitutional requirements are only for free exercise, and no establishment, but its a traditional part of our political culture, even if its not a constitutional requirement.