The Trillion Dollar Gorilla

[pureDzire]

An Issue was raised on the recent EWTN Broadcast about what might occur if the States ratify same-sex marriage in spite of Church Teachings:
On the WORLD OVER this past Friday Night, it was said that the Church could lose its tax-exempt status if it refused to marry homosexual persons once the States had ratified it and made it legal. The dilemma was referred to as a Part of the Trillion Dollar Gorilla which, it was said, could threaten the entire Church not only over this particular matter but, over the other of today’s contemporary issues. Like with Catholic Hospitals that would refuse to comply with Laws on Abortion or Euthenasia. Losing their tax-exempt status would, as he pointed out, cost trillions of dollars for the Church.
It seemed to be a monumental point that was being raised. The genleman speaking was from a National Organization on Marriage, by the name of Brown, if I recall. He was speaking to Raymond Aroyo (pardon my spelling, please)

Can anyone comment on that?!

 

[Bella3502]

There are so many more important issues in the world than this one.

The world will not end because gay people get married.

 

[Scottgun]

I think the heart of the matter was the tax-exemption was easy when the society at large was essentially friendly to churches. They still are, but there are alot more very vocal hostile forces out there, and there is no end to the arguments they can make for pulling it. Most of the arguments are silly, but only takes one at the right time and circumstances. Or to put it this way–they can afford to lose 10,000 battles. They only need to win one.

Meaning frankly, churces ought to start planning for the worst.

 

[Scottgun]

There are so many more important issues in the world than this one.

The world will not end because gay people get married.

The wolrd will end eventually. But getting our tax-exempt status pulled does have serious consequences if not prepared for.

Unless you are banging the drum for the Church approving or administering gay marriages. In which case, you are being absurd.

 

[RobinSebas]

There are so many more important issues in the world than this one.

The world will not end because gay people get married.

Please list the other important issues in the world.

I feel an urge to stick your comment to each of them.

 

[St_Francis]

Are we men or are we mice? What matter if we have all the tax exemptions in the world if we lose our soul? Should we be silent on matters of faith simply because the government threatens to tax us!!! The martyrs refused to do simple acts which would have saved their lives and we are worried about losing tax exemptions???

 

[Scottgun]

Are we men or are we mice? What matter if we have all the tax exemptions in the world if we lose our soul? Should we be silent on matters of faith simply because the government threatens to tax us!!! The martyrs refused to do simple acts which would have saved their lives and we are worried about losing tax exemptions???

I don’t think anyone posting so far is worried about losing them, I’m just saying we’d better be prepared in anticipation of losing them. I think having tax-exempt status is right and just, and thus, ought to be rigorously defended, but you are right–if it’s a choice between the integrity of the Faith and tax-exemption, obviously I choose the Faith.

 

[Newbie2]

When we start losing those battles, it will not be much longer until the Church gets banned for not complying with civil law…

 

[ricko]

There are so many more important issues in the world than this one.

The world will not end because gay people get married.

Maybe the world will not end but probably the world as we know it will. Should we ignore issues because some list them as trifle? Of course not. We should not ignore any issue that affects the Church and our freedom to worship and believe as we choose. To say that there are other issues to be dealt with is true but I believe we can walk and chew gum at the same time. I do not consider this gay issue to be trivial anyway because right now any church in Canada that speaks out against homosexulity can be charged with a hate crime resulting in stiff fines and jail time. And the movement is heading to the U.S… We need to make our voice heard by voting and writing to our lawmakers.

 

[ricko]

P.S. I was mistaken that religious persecution was on its way to the U.S., it is already here…cbn.com/cbnnews/news/050210a.aspx

 

[BillP]

So how long has the Federal government been demanding that the Church allowed divorced people to marry?

 

[ricko]

I am not aware of any post that has made that statement. Could you show what post you are referring to that made that statement?

 

[KathleenElsie]

Are we men or are we mice? What matter if we have all the tax exemptions in the world if we lose our soul? Should we be silent on matters of faith simply because the government threatens to tax us!!! The martyrs refused to do simple acts which would have saved their lives and we are worried about losing tax exemptions???

This is how I feel. If paying taxes means that religious organizations can preach and teach the truth without interference by government then so be it.

 

[Dale_M]

So how long has the Federal government been demanding that the Church allowed divorced people to marry?

Exactly. The government hasn’t been telling religions how to conduct their faiths. We have no reason to think that gay marriage will change that.

 

[Biggie]

Exactly. The government hasn’t been telling religions how to conduct their faiths. We have no reason to think that gay marriage will change that.

Once marriage between homosexuals is legalized, the refusal to marry becomes an issue of discrimination against a recognized minority class ( unlike divorce where no implication exists as to the class of people ). Since tax exempt status is not a right, but is legislated, it can be taken away at the discretion of the legislature. One requirement for tax exempt status currently is that a tax exempt organization may not discriminate and retain its status. So there is every reason to think that if homosexual marriage is legalized, the refusal of a church to marry would bring it into direct conflict with the government and risk tax exempt status.

And for those who think this wouldn’t matter, donations to a non-exempt organization could no longer be claimed as charitable donations by the giver. I wonder what effect this would have on church finances?

 

[Dale_M]

Once marriage between homosexuals is legalized, the refusal to marry becomes an issue of discrimination against a recognized minority class ( unlike divorce where no implication exists as to the class of people ). Since tax exempt status is not a right, but is legislated, it can be taken away at the discretion of the legislature.

Church marriage is a religious ceremony. Threatening to strip tax-exempt status in order to force religious practice to change, I think, would be a violation of Separation of Church and State and thus unconstitutional.

 

[rjs1]

There are so many more important issues in the world than this one.

The world will not end because gay people get married.

On the contrary! This is a critical issue.

At stake is God’s plan for mankind. God made man to be complete in the bond of marriage with a woman and within that bond to raise and nurture children.

Homosexual “marriage” is an abomination that would deny God’s plan and corrupt the very fabric of our society.

 

[JuanVelarde]

Church marriage is a religious ceremony. Threatening to strip tax-exempt status in order to force religious practice to change, I think, would be a violation of Separation of Church and State and thus unconstitutional.

I don’t think the separation issue will be looked at from our point of view. It typically pertains to anything that will help in taking rights away from Christians.

People in small towns like mine would be greatly affected by criminalizing the Catholic/Christian stance on homosexual unions. Our parish, which serves our entire county, would loose the church if not for the tax exempt status.

Furthermore, if our beloved priest were jailed for “hate crimes” not only would our parish loose it only priest but also his home parish in the next county. That could be devastating to our small community of Catholics. I assume we are not the only ones in this situation.

We MUST do all we can to stop this legislation. Please use your vote wisely and pray for strong men to follow their vocations to the priesthood.

 

[Biggie]

Church marriage is a religious ceremony. Threatening to strip tax-exempt status in order to force religious practice to change, I think, would be a violation of Separation of Church and State and thus unconstitutional.

1. Church marriage is also a civil process. 2) Just as tax exemption is not held to be a church / state problem as long as all religions complying with the legislative requirements for the exemption are granted it, the removal of the status from a church for failure to comply is not a church / state issue. 3) Other churches have had their tax exempt status revoked based on activity, for example Branch Ministries for political advertising.

The calculus is that the State’s interest in protecting minorities from discrimination takes precedence over any interest the Church has in preserving its tax exemption.

Such an action would be fought, for sure. The outcome would not be certain. But to say that the action to remove the exemption is unlikely or impossible is clearly wrong.

 

[rush176]

There are so many more important issues in the world than this one.

The world will not end because gay people get married.

It will end in hell for those gay people who do not repent and stop living an active homosexual life.