Pope warns religious orders: Take in refugees, or pay property taxes

[gilliam]

On the eve of a trip to the United States, Pope Francis has called himself a “son of immigrants” and confirmed the point by issuing a blunt warning to any religious orders in Europe that spurn his recent call to open their doors to refugees because they want to make money off their properties instead.

Go ahead, the pope said, but be ready to pay taxes just like everybody else.

“Some religious orders say ‘No, now that the convent is empty we are going to make a hotel and we can have guests, and support ourselves that way, or make money,’” the pontiff said.

“Well, if that is what you want to do, then pay taxes! A religious school is tax-exempt because it is religious, but if it is functioning as a hotel, then it should pay taxes just like its neighbor. Otherwise it is not fair business.”

cruxnow.com/church/2015/09/14/pope-warns-religious-orders-take-in-refugees-or-pay-taxes-on-your-property/

 

[Kenny_Kamel]

How about a hotel where refugees stay for free? Paying taxes doesn’t solve anything, we are called to be charitable but this statement is pure fodder for the secularists to exploit.

 

[Johann_du_Toit]

Maybe the Pope was emphasizing the Church principle of solidarity?

I’m for taking in bona fide refugees, but they should first be screened to make sure they are not ISIS sleeper agents trying to gain entry into civilized countries.

 

[abucs]

… this statement is pure fodder for the secularists to exploit.

Yep, again.

 

[maine82]

Have to disagree with the Pope to an extent.

If he’s just saying that in a crisis situation, these religious orders need to open their doors to refugees free of charge, and forsake using their properties for hotels for the moment, I understand that.

If he’s saying they shouldn’t use their properties as hotels or for other money-making ventures at all, or else pay taxes, then I completely disagree. The Mormons with great skill have engaged in real estate development and other money-making ventures, and they encourage their members to not only donate money but stock options and properties. Those resources are then used to fuel their missionary work and their charities. There’s no reason why we shouldn’t take advantage of religious tax exemptions to do the same, and if we don’t we’re making a mistake.

 

[Birdpreacher]

Pope Francis once again showing he is from a family of immigrants and I delight in his apt point that a church run hotel/monastary which is competing with other for-profit hotels in the market has an unfair advantage in its ability to avoid taxation

 

[mikekle]

How about a hotel where refugees stay for free? Paying taxes doesn’t solve anything, we are called to be charitable but this statement is pure fodder for the secularists to exploit.

He was referring to the recent calls for churches to loose their tax exempt status, there was a big article about in the Washington Post the other day, seems that is what the majority is seeking…I think was warning us, if US churches do not at least try to do something to help these immigrants, they will make sure churches loose the tax exempt status that much quicker, make it easier to ‘sell’ to the public (not that it would be hard anyway, but just saying).