It's time to write your congressman to tax the churches

[Horse with no Name]

Taxes are in place to basically pay for the government to run.
If you pay taxes, then you are paying for a voice in the government.
If you don't pay taxes--then why should you have a say? You don't pay for operation of the government.
As ministers of Faith, their voice should stop at the pulpit to their parishioners. They have a captive audience of people who believe as they do and a chance to minister to their flock.
However, I do not belong to their flock and I am tireddddddd of having these unGodly leaches and their minions in my home day in and day out telling me what I should and shouldn't do.
Their parishioners tithe to hear their words--I don't.
If they want to have a voice in the government, then these churches need to pay taxes because at this point in time, they do NOT have a vested interest in my actions UNLESS I CHOOSE to go to their church.
My tax money should not be overpowered by the favors and special interests of corrupt politicians.

[Dr.Phool]

1. My property taxes are a lot higher because

A zillion churches in the area, don't have to pay any. And they all occupy prime real estate.

[FreedomAngel82]

6. What I think

is if they are getting involved in politics that church should be tax'd. They're going over the lines and it should be stopped. I go to church for spiritual needs not to be told about how to vote.

[skylarmae]

2. your subject line made me bust out-loud laughing!

Orrin Hatch Bob Bennett Cannon Bishop and Matheson (all UT) believe me when I tell you it would do no good to write them. I write them all the time to no avail, but this one is a real knee slapper.

[Avalux]

3. IRS info

In general, no organization may qualify for section 501(c)(3) status if a substantial part of its activities is attempting to influence legislation (commonly known as lobbying). A 501(c)(3) organization may engage in some lobbying, but too much lobbying activity risks loss of tax-exempt status.

Legislation includes action by Congress, any state legislature, any local council, or similar governing body, with respect to acts, bills, resolutions, or similar items (such as legislative confirmation of appointive office), or by the public in referendum, ballot initiative, constitutional amendment, or similar procedure. It does not include actions by executive, judicial, or administrative bodies.

An organization will be regarded as attempting to influence legislation if it contacts, or urges the public to contact, members or employees of a legislative body for the purpose of proposing, supporting, or opposing legislation, or if the organization advocates the adoption or rejection of legislation.

Organizations may, however, involve themselves in issues of public policy without the activity being considered as lobbying. For example, organizations may conduct educational meetings, prepare and distribute educational materials, or otherwise consider public policy issues in an educational manner without jeopardizing their tax-exempt status.
http://www.irs.gov/charities/charitable/article/0,,id=120703,00.html

Not sure how "Justice Sunday" fits into this - but it wouldn't hurt to contact the IRS with specific names of churches who participated as well as writing congressmen and senators.

Find Churches who participated in your area here:

http://www.frc.org/get.cfm?c=JS_SIMULCAST

[donkeyotay]

4. No representation without taxation?

Great info there, sparosnare:

"In general, no organization may qualify for section 501(c)(3) status if a substantial part of its activities is attempting to influence legislation (commonly known as lobbying). A 501(c)(3) organization may engage in some lobbying, but too much lobbying activity risks loss of tax-exempt status.
...

An organization will be regarded as attempting to influence legislation if it contacts, or urges the public to contact, members or employees of a legislative body for the purpose of proposing, supporting, or opposing legislation, or if the organization advocates the adoption or rejection of legislation."

Some folks have got to decide if they're in the saving souls business or in the GOP crimefamily bidness. In the end, this will harm the churches, so all churches not involved had best speak out now.

[WildClarySage]

5. I dunno if I agree.

The civil rights movement was able to happen in part because of the religious/church context. Many churches are involved in progressive projects like 3rd world debt forgiveness and while I think the idiots who organized the Just Us Sunday Crapolafest are deliberately trying to take advantage of the history of (usually) liberal churches & social justice issues to push their sleazy agenda, the answer is not to do an about face and ignore the potential for good that many churches are doing but instead to expose this exploitation for all to see and point and laugh.

[NickofTime]

7. The Jizya for Christian Churches

Islam is fair, unlike the evil Bush and his minions. Under Islam, all Christians must pay tax to the Government, which is only fair!

Chapter 63. Chapters on the Jizya and Truces

I: The Jizya and Truce with the people of the dhimma and the people of war.
Allah Almighty says, "Fight those of the people who were given the Book who do not believe in Allah and the Last Day and do not forbid what Allah and His Messenger have forbidden and do not take as their deen the deen of Truth, until they pay the poll tax with their own hands in a state of complete abasement," (9:29) meaning humbled. "Misery" (maskana) (2:61, 3:112) is the verbal noun of "miserable". One says that so-and-so is more miserable than so-and-so, meaning more in need. It is not derived from sukûn (calmness).

Muslims can make common cause with non-Muslims who keep the peace.