Germans Consider Requiring Tax Returns To Attend Xmas Mass

[DeSwiss]

COME ALL YE FAITHFUL TAXPAYERS
Christmas is for Church Members, Say German Politicians

Spiegel Online
12/22/2008

http://www.spiegel.de/img/0,1020,1292871,00.jpg

People attending midnight mass at German churches may have to bring their tax returns with them in the future, if two politicians have their way: They've called for Christmas services to be confined to regular visitors who pay church tithes.

Will it become harder to get into German churches at Christmas? German politicians have said midnight mass on Christmas Eve should be reserved for people who have paid their church tax. Thomas Volk, a senior member of Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats in the southern state of Baden-Württemberg, said many regular churchgoers were angry that they can't get a seat because of the onslaught on churches at Christmas.

He told Bild newspaper: "I'm in favor of having church services on December 24 open only for people who pay church tax."

Germany's Catholic and Protestant churches are still largely funded by tithes, which are collected by the federal tax office. Germans have the right to opt out of paying tithes -- by leaving their church. So it upsets some tithe-paying religious folk to find their normally underpopulated churches crowded with people at the holidays. The head of the business-friendly Free Democrats in the Berlin city assembly gave support to Volk's proposal, telling Bild that members should be handed tickets to guarantee them a seat during a crowded service.

It remains unclear how such rules should be enforced -- or whether people attending midnight mass should bring their tax returns with them.

http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/0,1518,597971,00.html">LINK

- I know! Seat licenses!!! Well, if its good enough for the NFL.

But seriously, I could see how this might work out to the church's advantage. They could make some real money by putting it on the teevee -- as a new reality show. They could have a huge melee break out over the seating arrangements and watch The Sinners vs. The Saints. Winners get to pose with the Baby Jesus in the Nativity creche'.

I love this stuff. Brings tears to my eyes to see so much joy and love in the world.....
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DeSwiss


http://www.atheisttoolbox.com/">The Atheist Toolbox




"Prayer is just a way of telling god that his divine plan for
you is flawed -- and shockingly stingy" ~ Betty Bowers

[pitohui]

1. that is hilarious in a way but in another way seems fair enough to me

i see their point, whilst i have been admitted to any number of german churches for free, obviously if it was a busy time, there should be a way to give preference to the actual you know members and supporters of the church

maybe there could be a way to collect donations at the door for those who were not members but wanted to attend at busy times?

our zoo does this, we have special member's events, but there is always a table set up so that if someone comes by, who is not a member and would like to attend, they can join on the spot

seems fair to me?

there are many many other days of the year when the german churches are wide open and welcoming to all w.out questioning

god forbid they go to the english model and start charging admission for tourists to stroll into a church or cathedral even when it isn't a busy time! much more fair to ask about the tax or tithe when the place is actually crowded, in my humble view!

[DeSwiss]

2. Yeah, but....

...its still never as good as the book.

- Even plagiarized, there was little improvement....

[knitter4democracy]

3. Oh, whatever. Our church is like that, especially at Easter.

Tons of visitors and people who are culturally Orthodox and so don't come at all except for Easter. No biggie. We make room for them, too. Why wouldn't we? It's a church, and all are welcome, not just those who pay their tithes.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

4. Note that these are legislators, not church figures proposing this

Most churches are extra crowded on Christmas Eve and Easter. There are two solutions:

1) Set up extra chairs. (That's my church's solution. We open the balcony and set up an extra row in the back.)

2) Schedule extra services. (I've been in parishes where they did this, too.)

[norepubsin08]

6. that's what we do also

I used to sing for a Catholic Church that had seven Masses between 5:00PM Christmas Eve and 6pm Christmas day...the Church staff was trashed by the time Christmas finished...specially if the 23rd or the 26th was on a Sunday!

[ZombieHorde]

5. Why are politicians trying to deciding who can attend Xmas mass?

[Dorian Gray]

7. It won't happen

it's a proposal by two politicians. It's certainly not law yet. (Though who knows.)

I'd be shocked if the churches agreed to this.