Posted on Apr 7, 2020
Another Break From The Past: Government Will Help Churches Pay Pastor Salaries
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Woah, woah, woah. These are either tax free institutions or they are not. If they are tax free due to being separate from the government then the government should not be sending them money. It seems like they are getting it both ways.
Another Break From The Past: Government Will Help Churches Pay Pastor Salaries
Posted from npr.org
Religion
Taxes
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 3
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That has been liberal mythology but in fact it has never worked that way. Catholic Church has always been able to obtain taxpayer funds for various purposes. All they do is write a grant for a specific program and the government rules thumbs up or thumbs down. Also term used is Non-Profit or Non Government Organization. Additionally, church run hospitals provide healthcare to the indigent or those not able to pay up to $1-2 million per non-profit hospital........which is often denied by politicians who say the Emergency Room is the only way. Never has been true either. Though I will admit $1-2 million is NOT a lot of money per hospital but it represents the slim profit in most cases they otherwise would have made so the amount fluctuates, I just captured the low end. There is quite a few items the government expects of non-profits in return for tax exempt status. Now, it has been true the government does not pay for religious services but it is not doing so here it is merely supporting a non profit head who might have a shortfall AND that met the governments means test. Certainly, I would not expect an ultra rich Joel Olsteen to get any money but I would expect a small town pastor whom is hurting and got most of his or her money from passing the hat. Additionally, there is a means test to this government funding. Not given to all. Just like the checks passed out to individuals. Its a perfectly fair approach.
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SPC Kevin Ford
SPC Erich Guenther Religious institutions can get money for secular purposes, nobody is arguing that. However, this isn't that. This is getting money for religious purposes. From the article:
"Faith-based organizations are eligible to receive SBA loans regardless of whether they provide secular social services," the SBA said in a statement.
That's the difference between this and Catholic hospitals, prison literacy programs, and other things that your aunt normally applies to get grants for.
This is going to allow every religious huckster preaching the prosperity gospel to get our money for another jet.
"Faith-based organizations are eligible to receive SBA loans regardless of whether they provide secular social services," the SBA said in a statement.
That's the difference between this and Catholic hospitals, prison literacy programs, and other things that your aunt normally applies to get grants for.
This is going to allow every religious huckster preaching the prosperity gospel to get our money for another jet.
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Well, the government has shut down churches/synagogues etc. which is where tithes and offerings that support their income come from. There are also plenty of regular people that due to their income level pay no federal income tax. Should they be exempt from receiving any support as well? The purpose is to provide income to those who lost it due to government mandated shut down. There is not a qualifier that they must have paid a federal income tax to receive benefit for lost income. You might want to think this one through a bit.
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SPC Erich Guenther
Churches have always had access to taxpayer money. Complete liberal mythology to state otherwise. My Aunt is a Catholic Nun and has written applications for government grants for prison literacy programs, programs to help others, etc, etc. Government does not gasp and say no way because she belongs to a religious order.........thank goodness.
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SPC Kevin Ford
Cpl Jeff N. I did think this through and there has been a shift in policy. Prior to 2018 churches could not get disaster relief, but we changed that too. As I told Erich, this opens the door to every huckster preaching the prosperity gospel to get taxpayer money for another private jet. Once we go down that path, how are we going to say no based on the type of religion?
You can bet the Satanic Temple is going to be all over this and we're going to have to give them taxpayer money too. They live for this type of thing.
You can bet the Satanic Temple is going to be all over this and we're going to have to give them taxpayer money too. They live for this type of thing.
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Cpl Jeff N.
SPC Kevin Ford - I know there will be fraud. There is fraud in every government program we have. My understanding is that, as part or the legislation, the org applying must be able to demonstrate proof of payroll and the like. Nothing is perfect, certainly. The US Government has stepped in and shut down their ability to conduct services and receive a large portion of their income through tithes and offerings to the church. If the government is compensating those hurt by the forced restrictions then they ae an aggrieved party.
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SPC Kevin Ford
Cpl Jeff N. - I gotcha. Still not sure I like it on principle. It wasn’t the government that caused this. Likely it was an act of god (ironically). But with everything else going on, this is not exactly the biggest problem.
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