Taking Liberties: Taxing Church Attendance?

  • Thread starter Thread starter 1holycatholic
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
Again, the distinction is semantic. Until such time as it is argued in front of the Court, all this arguing is moot.
That is unlikely for the simple reason that no politician in our holier-than-though system is going to introduce legislation to tax churches in any ordinary sense of the word. Fox would dedicate 24-hour coverage to the “scandal,” Bill Donoghue would get so upset he’d start talking in tongues, Beck would put out an open call for the guy’s blood and every bishop and “values coalition” would be funneling millions of (tax free) dollars to anyone who would run against him or her in the next election.
 
Just how would an authority tax the ”non” practice of a religion?
Well, it could impose real estate tax on church property, sales tax on rummage sales, employee tax on the salaries of religious workers, usage tax as to water, license fee for ministers, police fee for directing traffic in high volume situations, fire inspection tax, etc.

A tax on any activity involving a church which is not a religious rite would probably be constitutional.
 
Well, it could impose real estate tax on church property, sales tax on rummage sales, employee tax on the salaries of religious workers, usage tax as to water, license fee for ministers, police fee for directing traffic in high volume situations, fire inspection tax, etc.

A tax on any activity involving a church which is not a religious rite would probably be constitutional.
Actually many activities that are not religious are taxed. If the Church plays the lottery its winnings are taxed, the interest on moneys on deposit with a commercial bank are taxed. Those are non religious activities - they not the non-practice of religion. But the courts have drawn a line that activities that directly support a church and traditional religious activities are not taxed - as outlined in the many of the cases I have linked and quoted. For some reason you seem to have a hard time grasping that the practice is rooted in both law and constitution. This has been reflected in your inability to cite little if anything to support your position thus far and the denial of facts even when listed and highlighted.
 
as outlined in the many of the cases I have linked and quoted.
With due respect, you have misconstrued the* legal holdings* in the cases you mentioned. That makes all the difference.
 
Still can’t find a source to support your claim, I’m not surprised.
I think I took apart the legal cases you cited. Sorry, but the legal reasoning you used was faulty.

Now, you can describe it any way you want but I and others on this thread have shown you to be wrong.
 
I think I took apart the legal cases you cited. Sorry, but the legal reasoning you used was faulty.

Now, you can describe it any way you want but I and others on this thread have shown you to be wrong.
I agree, how do I dispute the “You’re wrong because I say you’re wrong” arguement?

I notice you still can’t back your postion with a cited source of any kind.
 
Under legal reasoning, if the government can exempt an entity from taxes based on legislation, it surely can make an entity subject to tax!

"The U.S. Supreme Court, by a vote of 8-1, upheld the tax exemption of churches in Walz v. Tax Commission of the City of New York, 397 U.S. 664 (1970). Walz, a self-described Christian who did not belong to any church and owned real estate in Richmond County, N.Y., sued the tax committee over property tax exemption for churches. Walz claimed he and other taxpayers were forced to indirectly subsidize churches.

The majority decision, written by Chief Justice Burger, held that the tax exempt status granted to all houses of worship is the same privilege given to other nonprofit organizations:

“The legislative purpose of a property tax exemption is neither the advancement nor the inhibition of religion; it is neither sponsorship nor hostility. New York, in common with the other States, has determined that certain entities that exist in a harmonious relationship to the community at large, and that foster its ‘moral or mental improvement,’ should not be inhibited in their activities by property taxation or the hazard of loss of those properties for nonpayment of taxes. It [397 U.S. 664 , 673] has not singled out one particular church or religious group or even churches as such; rather, it has granted exemption to all houses of religious worship within a broad class of property owned by nonprofit, quasi-public corporations which include hospitals, libraries, playgrounds, scientific, professional, historical, and patriotic groups.”

So, its not the constitution, its public administration which makes church property not subject to tax. **Then, there’s nothing in the constitution which exempts churches from tax.
**
 
So, its not the constitution, its public administration which makes church property not subject to tax. **Then, there’s nothing in the constitution which exempts churches from tax.
**
Then why did you say there was?
 
Then why did you say there was?
You don’t listen. I said there is nothing in the constitution which exempts churches from taxation. I said that taxing the practice of religion would probably be unconstitutional. I said that the statement in the OP that a tax was “obviously unconstitutional” was just wrong. I said that the Supreme Court had never ruled that taxing a church was unconstitutional and it has not.

And now, I say I am through.
 
Beau,

Can you please cite one case where the power to tax churches is explicitly affirmed (whether or not any such tax is levied)?

Walz plainly does not do this.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top