The Ultimate Goal

[seer]

From the court yesterday, the ultimate goal:

Religious institutions could be at risk of losing their tax-exempt status due to their beliefs about marriage if the Supreme Court holds that gay couples have a constitutional right to wed, President Obama’s attorney acknowledged to the Supreme Court today. “It’s certainly going to be an issue,” Solicitor General Donald Verrilli replied when Justice Samuel Alito asked if schools that support the traditional definition of marriage would have to be treated like schools that once opposed interracial marriage. “I don’t deny that.”

http://www.nationalreview.com/articl...ourt-rules-gay

[Epoetker]

I pray that it happens soon, as that may be the only thing that can wake up the more marginal churches.

Everyone now seems concerned about the way the IRS sought to intimidate and punish “conservative” non-profits groups. But why should this surprise us? The IRS has been the chief instrument of coercion against America’s churches for over a half-century. And where is the outrage among America’s Christians for the way their pastors have been intimidated and bribed into silence by this monstrous agency? If America’s churches had any guts, they would stand up now and demand that the IRS, along with its infernal 501c3 code, be forever abolished.

Jesus said that a man cannot serve two masters–neither can a church. The church cannot be the property of the state and the property of Christ at the same time. Its loyalty is to one or the other. A pastor cannot be the prophet of God and the hireling of men at the same time. And the scripture is clear: “Be not ye the servants of men.” (I Corinthians 7:23)

[Irate Canadian]

I pray that it happens soon, as that may be the only thing that can wake up the more marginal churches.

Ah, the old neo-con position: The IRS is teh evilllz!!!!!!!

[rogue06]

Ah, the old neo-con position: The IRS is teh evilllz!!!!!!!

I think you will find a fair number of liberals and many moderates as well that think that the IRS is evil. Some may hold that it is a necessary evil, but evil nonetheless.

[Irate Canadian]

I think you will find a fair number of liberals and many moderates as well that think that the IRS is evil. Some may hold that it is a necessary evil, but evil nonetheless.

So er, how exactly is the government supposed to fund things then? Honestly really curious...

[Cow Poke]

I think you will find a fair number of liberals and many moderates as well that think that the IRS is evil. Some may hold that it is a necessary evil, but evil nonetheless.

Perhaps a necessary, albeit totally inefficient, convoluted and horribly corrupt, evil?

[rogue06]

So er, how exactly is the government supposed to fund things then? Honestly really curious...

For a start how did the government fund things before there was an IRS? You may also want to look into the idea of the Fair Tax as one possible alternative. While I'm not completely convinced by it, I do find the idea intriguing and notice that a great deal of the opposition to it comes from those who have to change some of its provisions in order to attack it (can you say "straw man"?).

[mikewhitney]

So er, how exactly is the government supposed to fund things then? Honestly really curious...

The US Government is allowed to tax on imports, exports and special privileges.

They also can allocate a tax to each state to be assessed in proportion to the number of people in each state.

So the constitution has permitted a few options to an honest government.

[Cow Poke]

So the constitution has permitted a few options to an honest government.

So, what have they permitted to OUR government?

[Sparko]

I know my church said that if it came down to it, they would give up their tax free status. That opens the door for them to do all sorts of other things, like directly support political candidates for example. I think if they force churches to give up their tax free status it will come to bite them in the rear.

[Cow Poke]

I know my church said that if it came down to it, they would give up their tax free status.

Absolutely!

That opens the door for them to do all sorts of other things, like directly support political candidates for example. I think if they force churches to give up their tax free status it will come to bite them in the rear.

[Cow Poke]

What's interesting is that the liberal churches - particularly the black Churches - get away with all kinds of political activity, even having campaign events in their churches, and candidates coming to "preach" for them. The phrase "walking around money" (or "street money") was really common back about 20 years ago, where a politician would see that a Church needed a new roof or carpet or something, and the campaign would "donate" toward the Church's needs.

Nobody would DARE threaten them with loss of IRS exemption.

[Leonhard]

Its odd contemplating the actual possibility of having to do garage, house and cellar churches, within my own lifetime. Makes you realize how much of a luxury it is to be able to freely worship within visible and legally recognized organisations, and inside buildings dedicated to that purpose.

[Jedidiah]

For a start how did the government fund things before there was an IRS? You may also want to look into the idea of the Fair Tax as one possible alternative. While I'm not completely convinced by it, I do find the idea intriguing and notice that a great deal of the opposition to it comes from those who have to change some of its provisions in order to attack it (can you say "straw man"?).

I support the Fair Tax.

[mikewhitney]

I support the Fair Tax.

I like that. Then if you don't go to the State Fair, you won't pay any taxes.