ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH should lose tax exempt status for PRO-ILLEGAL lobbying efforts?

http://www.examiner.com/immigration-reform-in-national/catholic-church-should-lose-tax-exempt-status-over-pro-illegal-alien-lobbying-efforts

"The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ committee on immigration met recently to discuss how the church can help push forward so-called ‘comprehensive immigration reform’ (i.e. amnesty for illegal aliens).

Bishop John C. Wester, chair of the committee, characterized the USCCB’s lobbying efforts as “a full-court press” on immigration reform.

Wester told reporters: "We certainly honor the laws of the land and we're grateful for them, but we do believe the system is no longer able to deal with the immigration realities we face today. We have great need for labor and invite immigrants to work, but then call it trespassing. We need temporary workers, but don't have sufficient visas."

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They and the Mormon Church for pouring millions into passing Proposition 8.

 

Churches and any other organization should be allowed to speak freely. They shouldn't be forced to pay a tax in order to have free speech.

 

Proposition B in what State and context? Google tells me Proposition B is a Missouri question related to dogs.

 

This is separation of church and State. It is a mandate from the U. S. Constitution. It made the news when Pat Robertson considered running for President a couple years ago. If you have a tax exempt status as a church, you can not participate in politics. Period, that is it. Robertson gave up his bid for President because he did not want to pay taxes. All churches should be taxed anyway.

The Roman Catholic Church needs to be taxed. They are poking their nose into politics on a woman's right to choose, the right to die, GLBT rights, pedephile priests, and safe havens for illegal aliens. Fortunately, it looks like the Roman Catholic Church might implode soon from it's own bull (*)(*)(*)(*). Catholics may be a religion or a political action committee, but not both.

 

The proposition in California essentially banning gay marriage.

The Mormon Church fronted that movement.

 

The subject of this thread is safe houses and lobby efforts for illegal aliens are being provided by the Roman Catholic Church.

 

I agree that they should be able to speak freely--as we all are guaranteed by the 1st Amendment. That said, why should they be exempt from paying their fair share in taxes? They enjoy the benefits and privileges of citizenship--which comes with a price: taxation.

 

That would be and "8" not a "B." You live in California and are unfamiliar with Prop 8????

 

Agreed. Agreed.

 

A provocative question. If you knew anything about how the Catholic Church is run, you'd be asking if the individual bishops and cardinals who flagrantly violate the law by harboring illegal immigrants should lose their tax exempt status for their diocese.

My answer is yes.

 

Many organizations (not only religions) enjoy tax-exempt status. Organizations left, right, and center are tax exempt. That a given organization doesn't share your racist anti-immigrant prejudice is no reason to deny them tax exempt status.

 

True, however my point is that churches that actively engage in political efforts should loose the tax exempt status.

Pouring millions into Proposition 8 is an excellent example.

 

All Corporations should be taxed as well, but they are not. Such as the various Atheist organizations that are labeled as 'tax exempt' by the IRS.

 

When bishops and cardinals illegally harbor illegal immigrants and deliberately form policies of non-cooperation with authorities, they should have their well dressed asses thrown in jail like any other criminal. As a Catholic, I'm getting sick of laws being broken by these criminals in my name.

 

The Catholic Church is a lot more powerful than you people think. Please keep in mind that this is the Church that pulled down Communism in Europe.

 

All the more infuriating that the very communist ideals that the late John Paul II fought all his life against are being embraced and advanced by liberal cardinals and bishops here in the United States. It's sickening that lawlessness is being actively encouraged by the clergy.

NOT IN MY NAME!

 

You should keep in mind that almost all of the millions of illegal immigrants in this country are Roman Catholics and the Church feels responsible for their welfare.

 

There's a lot of things I am keeping in mind. I'm keeping in mind that they entered this country illegally and broke the law. I'm reminded that they draw upon entitlements, welfare, foodstamps, housing assistance, and public schools. I'm reminded that they terrorize our streets with their gangs and populate our jails at taxpayer expense. I'm reminded that they take up American jobs when our unemployment is at 10%. I'm reminded that clergy that hide them and are telling priests to deliberately not cooperate with police and federal authorities are breaking the law and fostering an atmosphere of rebellion and lawlessness. I'm reminded that their "welfare" that you mentioned (apt choice of words) is at my expense, whether I like it or not.

These cardinals and bishops aren't following the teachings of the Church, they're just left wing ideologues who have perverted Catholic teachings with poisonous political ideologies.

Let's put them behind bars where they belong.

 

I think there's something in the Bible about loving your neighbor. Maybe that's what the Catholic Church is trying to do.

 

Love Thy Neighbor does not mean

1. Don't defend your borders
2. Don't enforce your laws
3. It's ok to steal from others
4. It's ok to break the law
5. It's ok to tell others to break the law
6. I'm entitled to your money and property
7. Gimme Gimme because I'm your neighbor

Oh, and by the way, these few bishops and cardinals

ARE NOT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH!

 

As much as I hate religions and think they are a bunch of made up bull(*)(*)(*)(*), at least, and I can not believe I am saying this, in this case the Catholic church is living by their espoused principles.

 

The immigration laws cause a lot of suffering to millions of people and there needs to be some kind of reform so that is easier to legally immigrate here.

 

What? Atheists get tax exempt status? Isn't that something. And none are complaining I see.

Quantrill

 

The Catholic Church has always lived up to its espoused principles. These bishops, however, the ones that are acting lawlessly, are not. And when certain Catholic dioces start pushing political agendas then they are no longer a charity, they are a PAC. They should lose their tax exempt status. The only thing they're counting on is Obama not enforcing the laws that would make that happen. Stupid bet they are making, that Obama will be in office another 4 years. I hope a Republican president yanks their tax exempt status with little or no ceremony.