Why or why not?
Does the separation of church and state have any validity on this issue?
2007-06-20 01:42:36 · 27 answers · asked by hypno_toad1 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The law says that any charity can not take a political position.
Churches claim to be charities. So they can not support a political position. If they do, then they lose charitable status and get taxed on income.
It is not really a Church/State separation issue. The law is there to stop charities from using their influence to effect politics. The same would apply to The Red Cross, Amnesty International or Greenpeace.
A charity is allowed to have a politician come to speak. But they can not campaign and the charity can not encourage people to vote in a specific way.
Edit:
If this is a separate 'should we tax churches' question then I would say no. It opens up too big a can of worms for other charities.
However, I would say all charities have to reach a certain efficiency. So if a charity does not return, say 65% of it's income to the people it claims to help then it loses its charitable status and gets taxed. There are too many 'charities' out there skimming a profit.
2007-06-20 01:50:59 · answer #1 · answered by Simon T 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
This country was founded because of government trying to run the churches and that is why we have the first amendment. Not the other way around. The church gets involved with politics for two basic reasons. One, there should be moral people in office running the country. Isn't that the biggest problem everyone has with politicians (even nonchristians)? Two, christians are just trying to hold their ground. It's not like some people think. For example, prayer was taken from schools. Kids who weren't raised to do that shouldn't have to, right? The problem is that it didn't stop there. Now the kids who do believe are having a hard time when praying in schools. They've lost their freedom. So a lot of times it's not a matter of keeping others doing what they don't want to be doing, it's a matter of knowing what the end result will be for the christians and trying to keep our rights from being trampled. We're not the only group doing this.
2007-06-20 09:17:14 · answer #2 · answered by Maria C 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes they should stay out of politics because they have no purpose trying to legislate morality.
Should they be taxed? Only for the public works that they use. Other than that no because they are non-profit. However if a churches start trying to be politically active or collect money or raise money for an election then they should be taxed
2007-06-20 08:49:25 · answer #3 · answered by John C 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Separation of church and state has nothing to do with policy or taxation. It means that the government shall not establish a state religion.
If churches are reclassified as for profit, then all nonprofits, including charities, will have to be reclassified. I would say that churches do not necessarily deserve a blanket nonprofit classification. Perhaps each should apply. I have a hunch some would come out for profits on a one-by-one basis.
2007-06-20 08:58:11 · answer #4 · answered by sailaway 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The issue is not taxes. I am sure if churches could determine public policy just by paying taxes they would go for it in a heartbeat. Churches should stay out of politics. PERIOD
History past and current shows the kind of oppresion that religion mixed with govt has.
2007-06-20 08:45:58 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Churches should stay out of politics. Their non-existent god doesn't belong to a political party, so what right have the church leaders to tell their congragations how to vote. Churches should be free to make comments on proposed legislation in the same way any individual or group can, but should not be given any special consideration because of their belief system.
They absolutely should be taxed. Furthermore, no church should receive government funding for schools or other ventures. If people want to their children to be educated in delusion they should pay, not the taxpayer. The extra funds would make the public school system better and more attractive, and create a better society in the long term.
2007-06-20 08:56:29 · answer #6 · answered by Nodality 4 · 2⤊ 2⤋
With taxation, comes representation in the United States. It's fundamental. If you don't want the churches to get into your money, keep Government out of Church's money. One sure way to unite Church and State, is at the Bank. Why do you think the word 'denomination', applies mainly to church, and money?
2007-06-20 09:05:18 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Churches generally aren't taxed because they are non-profit. No we shouldn't tax that because there are a lot of non-profit that aren't religious. If they ARE profit then yes they should pay taxes. It's no longer a church its a business. Yes Churches should stay out of politics. Leave Cesar to Cesar and God to God..or something like that.
2007-06-20 08:46:36 · answer #8 · answered by ~Heathen Princess~ 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes, yes, yes emphatically! Churches should only concern themselves with politics if there is a new law trying to be passed that would restrict their religious freedom. Useing a pulpit as a political platform is unethical and an abuse of the power a pastor or priest or rabbi has over their followers.
2007-06-20 09:12:33 · answer #9 · answered by RealRachel 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Churches are not taxed because of their non-profit status. There are many many other types of organizations that are not taxed because of non-profit status -- e.g. professional societies, charities, universities. One of the requirements of non-profit status is that the organization stays out of politics, and there have been many lawsuits based on this issue. If churches get overtly involved in politics, their non-profit status should be revoked. When a church organizes a congregation into a voting block on behalf of a political candidate, they violate the intent of the prohibition against advocacy that is a condition of tax exemption
2007-06-20 08:54:41 · answer #10 · answered by Sandy G 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋