Forget church-state separation: U.S. government to pay pastors' salaries with relief funding

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Well, here's something we didn't know was part of the $2 trillion federal relief package: a provision that makes it possible for some of that relief money to be directed toward religious institutions, according to NPR.

That's right, churches and other faith-based organizations have been designated within the legislation as "businesses," making them eligible to receive a portion of the $350 billion dedicated to helping small businesses weather tough economic times. Those are taxpayer dollars, folks, going to help faith-based organizations pay their pastors and utility bills.

"Faith-based organizations are eligible to receive SBA loans regardless of whether they provide secular social services," the SBA said in a statement. "No otherwise eligible organization will be disqualified from receiving a loan because of the religious nature, religious identity, or religious speech of the organization."

This seems a pretty clear-cut flouting of the Constitution. The First Amendment reads, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2020/4/7/1935328/-Forget-church-state-separation-U-S-government-to-pay-pastors-salaries?detail=emaildkre

[totodeinhere]

1. Those so called faith based charlatans should not receive one dime of taxpayer money.

n/t

[spooky3]

2. And, unlike small businesses, they never pay federal income tax. Nt

[TexasProgresive]

3. i see no problem with clergy and staff getting it as long as they pay taxes on their income.

Most people assume that they don't pay income tax, but they are required to as is everyone else except big corporations and the very wealthy.

[onecaliberal]

5. My son in law who is a pastor pays quarterly taxes on his income.

[TexasProgresive]

6. Exactly my point.

I do know that some of these mega church evangelical types cheat and lie. They receive a small salary with a lot of untaxed high dollar perks. I doubt this is your son-in-law.

[OneBro]

7. This is about small business income losses, not personal income losses.

Last edited Sat Apr 11, 2020, 03:23 PM - Edit history (1)

Income losses are dealt with in a different provision. This provision treats non-tax paying churches as though they are tax-paying small businesses. Besides, if these pastors and churches had the faith of a mustard seed, they wouldn't need a dime of secular money.

[Newest Reality]

4. For the base!

All for the base in the last ditch efforts to keep the Evangelical Fundamentalist votes, etc.

The White House has not exactly been following the rule of law for a while now, so what do we expect? Flout he has and flout he will and just who's going to stop him? What can be done? Impeachment? That didn't work. Next?

[dalton99a]

8. Might as well call it a church tax

like they do in Europe

[procon]

9. Trump is buying votes.

That's illegal too. The Attorney General will be right on that, yep... any minute now...