A
Alix1912
Guest
Like I said, it is a State issue not a national govt. one. It has nerly happened already in several states and IS something we have to be aware of.
- Status
K
Kat127
Guest
The 1st Amendment protects against the establishment of religion as well as the free practice of religion. To take away tax exempt status (which is based on case law that was codified in the statutes) from some churches and not all churches would be to effectively have a state endorsed religion and a violation of the first amendment.1st amemdment protects the freedom of speech, and the freedom to practice religon, it says nothing about the ability of a state (which controls property taxes) to tax a charitable insitution. We had a law come up in our state about 5 years ago on the ballot that almost won that would have stripped Churchs of their exempt status. Mass. had one debated as well. Did not they try to do exactly that to CAF about 1-2 years ago? Refusal to allow someone to hold a position in your organization based on sex or sexual preference can be considered discrimination. Non Profits that discriminate often lose their tax exempt status in certain states. The KKK doesn’t get tax exemption. Political organizations don’t get the same exemption status. It’s all in the details of each states specific laws.
The power to tax is very much the power to destroy. It is also in our current system the power to social engineer as well.
The concept of Churchs being tax exempt is not based on Freedom of Religon but on Non Profit Tax exemption laws. That is why religious organizations can’t endorse candidates or ballot initatives in most states. The LCMS leadership is already preparing plans on how to deal with losing that status if it happens. If you do not believe it could happen…you head is in the sand. There are groups out there actively working to try and make it happen.
Furthermore, as I stated above, the power to tax is the power to destroy (very famous legal language) so to tax religious institutions as a whole would mean the government has the power to destroy all religions which would violate the 1st Amendment and the freedom of practice clause.
Just because your state almost passed a law that would have said otherwise does not mean that it would have been a constitutional law. June 2000 the Supreme Court ruled the Boy Scouts of America could refuse to allow an openly gay man a leadership position in their organization because they were a private club.
There are hundreds of years of law both here and in England supporting the Church’s autonomy. You would have to turn all that case law on its head to get the result you are talking about. I’m not telling you it’ll never happen but I don’t think it is as likely as you make it sound.
The Church has always had enemies. But property taxes won’t kill Catholicism. Maybe we’ll lose some of our beautiful churches but we’ve lost our beautiful churches before. We’ll be ok.
K
Kat127
Guest
The 1st Amendment as far as religion goes applies to the states.
C
Califman831
Guest
the greatest act of charity to a protestant is to lead them away from their heresies and welcome them into the Roman Catholic Church.
J
JReducation
Guest
To have Apostolic Succession you must have an uninterrupted priestly line back to the Apostles. The only ones who have that are the Latin Catholics, Oriental Catholics, the Orthodox Christians and the Old Catholics.With regard to Apostolic Succession, there are some other Christians that lay claim to this as well and may have a valid argument.
They say the Holy Spirit guided them to claim that their path is correct. It is interesting that we use the same arguments to defend the same position. In short, we say we’re right, because the Holy Spirit guided our decision making and so do they.
You know, you could have said this the way that the Holy Fathers say it and would have the same effect and sound much more fraternal.
" The greatest act of charity to a Protestant is to lead them into full communion with the Catholic Church, Roman or any other."
They don’t have to become Roman Catholic to be in full communion. Nor are the erroneous things that they believe “their heresies.” They are no more responsible for what they inherited than you are for the errors that you inherited… We have to stop making people feel guilty for things that they did not do. That does not foster unity nor lead to full communion. And we have to get past ourselves. Roman Catholics are not the Catholic Church. We are the largest of 23 Churches that make the one Catholic Church. Not everyone has to become Roman Catholic, nor should they. There are some Protestant communities that have more in common with some of the Oriental Churches than they do with Roman Catholics. The transition would be much easier for them, aside from the fact that they do not have the history of antagonism between them and the other Catholic Churches. It’s always good to present that option to Protestants and non - Catholics who are thinking about Catholicism.
Fraternally,
Br. JR, OSF
P
PJM
Guest
NO EXCUSES accepted!
While we deabte and defend as well as explain Catholism; any lack of Christy by anyone;MOST ESPECIALLY CATHOLICS is completely against what Christ taught and demands from us.
Having been here for quote awhile now; I have yet to encounter what you have seen. I have seen from time to time; tempers flair on both sides. And offer advice to be chairatble PLEASE. Especially to my fellow Catrholics.
We are here [MOST OF US ANYWAY] to explain and to defend our catholic faith. That by itself will lead to differing views and understandings. And it DOES get frustating when ones states a position with evidence to back it up and it’s either ignored of not accepted; but that is our Mission; and our Minstry. WE MUST DEAL WITH IN AS CHRIST WOULD.
THERE is NO ROOM for a lack of charity EVER!
I’m sorry for your experiences; maybe try different topics for awhile?
God Bless You!
Pat
B
BenedictOblate
Guest
Thank you Brother. I’ve been waiting for a response like this!To have Apostolic Succession you must have an uninterrupted priestly line back to the Apostles. The only ones who have that are the Latin Catholics, Oriental Catholics, the Orthodox Christians and the Old Catholics.
You know, you could have said this the way that the Holy Fathers say it and would have the same effect and sound much more fraternal.
" The greatest act of charity to a Protestant is to lead them into full communion with the Catholic Church, Roman or any other."
They don’t have to become Roman Catholic to be in full communion. Nor are the erroneous things that they believe “their heresies.” They are no more responsible for what they inherited than you are for the errors that you inherited… We have to stop making people feel guilty for things that they did not do. That does not foster unity nor lead to full communion. And we have to get past ourselves. Roman Catholics are not the Catholic Church. We are the largest of 23 Churches that make the one Catholic Church. Not everyone has to become Roman Catholic, nor should they. There are some Protestant communities that have more in common with some of the Oriental Churches than they do with Roman Catholics. The transition would be much easier for them, aside from the fact that they do not have the history of antagonism between them and the other Catholic Churches. It’s always good to present that option to Protestants and non - Catholics who are thinking about Catholicism.
Fraternally,
Br. JR, OSF
T
Thomas_Casey
Guest
Question has been answered. Thank you for participating.
CLOSED
CLOSED
- Status