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Montreal is taxing churches (2017)

montreal.ctvnews.ca

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Re: Montreal is taxing churches (2017)

#11

Post by solresol »

colordrops wrote: post #2

Makes sense to me, and should be done in the US as well. Providing a tax exemption is in a way the opposite of a separation of church and state. The state is giving them special treatment.

To put this in perspective, in Switzerland your employer takes your church donations out of your salary. Your taxes directly fund the church. _That's_ the opposite of separation of church and state.

In the USA, tax deductions to churches is giving the same treatment as a charity.

Re: Montreal is taxing churches (2017)

#12

Post by Svip »

colordrops wrote: post #2

Makes sense to me, and should be done in the US as well. Providing a tax exemption is in a way the opposite of a separation of church and state. The state is giving them special treatment.

Charity organisations usually get tax exemptions too. Maybe make that the only tax exemption, and have religious organisations prove that they are charities.

Re: Montreal is taxing churches (2017)

#13

Post by ars »

colordrops wrote: post #2

Makes sense to me, and should be done in the US as well. Providing a tax exemption is in a way the opposite of a separation of church and state. The state is giving them special treatment.

> The state is giving them special treatment.

No it's not. All non-profits are untaxed. If you are going to charge churches, then charge all non-profits.

Personally I think that's a bad policy.

Re: Montreal is taxing churches (2017)

#14

Post by ars »

NotSammyHagar wrote: post #3
colordrops wrote: post #2

Makes sense to me, and should be done in the US as well. Providing a tax exemption is in a way the opposite of a separation of church and state. The state is giving them special treatment.

Yes, it's obvious that a religion gets special treatment over say a club and it is unneeded.

> Yes, it's obvious that a religion gets special treatment over say a club

That isn't true. Non-profits are not taxed either.

Re: Montreal is taxing churches (2017)

#15

Post by seesawtron »

xupybd wrote: post #8
NotSammyHagar wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, it's obvious that a religion gets special treatment over say a club and it is unneeded.

How about tax exemptions for clubs too. If it's a group of people pooling money for non commercial activities why should that be taxed?

As long as clubs give free entry, sounds reasonable to me that club dancing would be considered a social, community-like activity to bring people closer to each other (literally too) and make them feel joyful.

Re: Montreal is taxing churches (2017)

#17

Post by ars »

noisy_boy wrote: post #7

Much needed step considering most religions are more business-like than faith-focused.

Your definition of "most" is rather suspect here. Obviously the "business-like" religions get lots of press, but in the real world they are a tiny minority.

Re: Montreal is taxing churches (2017)

#19

Post by skissane »

colordrops wrote: post #2

Makes sense to me, and should be done in the US as well. Providing a tax exemption is in a way the opposite of a separation of church and state. The state is giving them special treatment.

The article makes clear that churches in Montreal are still getting their tax exemption if they stick to purely religious activities (prayer, worship, etc). They are only being taxed when they use their property for not explicitly religious activities like charitable uses, community groups, etc.

Do those people applauding this really want to applaud a policy that gives tax exemptions to specifically religious activities but denies them to activities that are less explicitly religious in character? It seems the opposite policy to what they actually want.

Re: Montreal is taxing churches (2017)

#20

Post by alasdair_ »

xupybd wrote: post #8
NotSammyHagar wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, it's obvious that a religion gets special treatment over say a club and it is unneeded.

How about tax exemptions for clubs too. If it's a group of people pooling money for non commercial activities why should that be taxed?

Because people exploit the rules massively (the Church of Scientology is one example of many).

More importantly: these religious buildings still call the police when there is a break in and call the fire service when there is a fire. They expect all of the benefits from paying taxes without actually doing so.

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