05-31-2005, 01:09 PM
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#46
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Quote:
Inventor Of Gods wrote
I am gathering information to create a presentation that I may present to the municipal council and request that they use their power to slap a property tax on churches. What I am looking for is some information on how the financial structure of the catholic and Anglican churches operates (the big names in our town.) I already possess some of the information on Canadian (BC) zoning laws, and property assessment techniques, but more would be appreciated if possible. The goal is to convince the municipal counsel that churches do not qualify to fall under the non-profit organization status, or “organizations created for the common good of the people". Based on my calculations of the property values of church property, I have been able to determine that if I am able to succeed, the money collected would be able allow our little town to finally have a recreation center. Even if I fail, I will still be able to create a decent sized ruckus, and seeing as how this town has a sizable chunk of non-religious people in it, and at the very least, it would create interesting debate.
Your local churches use municipal water, sewer, roads, and various other services that cost large sums of money to operate. This is wrong. A good citizen stops a thief, and I am no different.
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Not to sound like a dick, but did you investigate if your local churches actually were doing things for the "common good of the people." I mean, really and truly. Because the Anglican church that I know of is pretty on point with that sort of stuff. They raise a lot of money for every sort of thing you can imagine (and its out of the pockets of the social elite on top of that, this church is in a wealthy university community).
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05-31-2005, 01:15 PM
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#47
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Guest
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Historically, churches were given a pass on taxes. I guess this is because kings in medieval times thought it sinful to levy taxes on the church (I'm not an expert on the history, so anyone please feel free to point out where I'm wrong). I don't see the point of trying to squeeze a few more tax dollars out of church, even if it is wealthy, nor do I see the point of getting upset about a rule that isn't going to change in the near future. But that's just me.
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05-31-2005, 09:50 PM
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#48
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Guest
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Well I think bringing up the issue is great. I don't know how successful you will be at getting churches taxed, but it certainly reminds the religious that _not_ seperating church and state is a two edged sword, and in this day and in the current political climate that is a big plus. If you move the minds of everyone in the room just a little it will be like you changed an entire person.
Go for it. Just remember to bring some friends. "One voice is a nut case, two voices are a nut case and a friend, five voices are 'we need to have a meeting', and twenty voices are 'our good friends'"
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05-31-2005, 09:59 PM
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#49
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Guest
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Quote:
Another brick in the wall wrote
.. If the Pope let homeless people live in the Vatican, I'd be more impressed.
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Pope's used to let lots of working women live in the Vatican, but people got upset and started Potestantism.
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06-01-2005, 09:14 PM
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#50
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Guest
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The Catholic church did a lot of things to alienate its followers. Namely, it was a transparently hypocritical fraud.
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06-01-2005, 09:59 PM
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#51
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Guest
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Quote:
Another brick in the wall wrote
Historically, churches were given a pass on taxes. I guess this is because kings in medieval times thought it sinful to levy taxes on the church (I'm not an expert on the history, so anyone please feel free to point out where I'm wrong). I don't see the point of trying to squeeze a few more tax dollars out of church, even if it is wealthy, nor do I see the point of getting upset about a rule that isn't going to change in the near future. But that's just me.
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Kings in medieval times more likely thought they would be excommunicated or burned at the stake. The Church had all the power back then, and it's still nothing but a poorly designed political entity. Just ask John Paul II or Darth Vader XVI.
The point of getting upset is that the Church is a political entity without the checks and ballances of a legitimate government. I'm envious that Canada could have the balls to stand up for itself while we in the US sit by and let religion control our hard-fought freedom.
Remember this?
Ignore the God stuff:D
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