Your tax dollars at work - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Palangi · #1 06-03-2008, 09:42 PM

http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/06/02/obamas-ex-church-has-won-15m-in-federal-grant-money/

Botnst · #2 06-04-2008, 08:23 AM

Oh boy.

Here we go with another exciting election season.

POS · #3 06-04-2008, 08:45 AM

It'll get worse before it gets better.

#4 06-04-2008, 09:03 AM

Churches are a buisness, we need to start taxing them as such.

Graplr · #5 06-04-2008, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ForcedInduction

Churches are a buisness, we need to start taxing them as such.

From:
The primary reason for this incorporation, is so that a 501(c)(3) tax exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service can be secured that will exempt the church from paying taxes on its offerings and property, and will provide a tax exemption to the organization's donors. The incorporation also serves to protect private individuals in the church from incurring personal liability in the organization's behalf. Whenever a church becomes such a corporation, it is required by law to keep detailed records of donations and financial records so to prove the nonprofit intent of the organization and to protect the intended purpose of the donor's offerings. Violations of related laws can result in revocation of a church's non profit status.

Section 501 (c) (3) of the IRS code describes what the government considers to be an eligible nonprofit, religious group. "A tax-exempt religious organization is a legal entity or vehicle created and operated exclusively for religious purposes, no part of the net earnings of which insures to the benefit of any private individual, no substantial part of the activities of which is carrying on propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and which does not participate in or interfere in any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office."

From the news article link above:
Records show this money supported a variety of outreach: everything from low income housing to nutritional programs for needy kids to money for HIV/AIDS education.

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It's not like the pastor was pocketing the $15 million.

Here is a link to much, much more of "your tax dollars at work". You can bet that amount is spent daily in this.
http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2003/iraq/war.tracker/index.html

aklim · #6 06-04-2008, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graplr

It's not like the pastor was pocketing the $15 million.

So what? There are non-profit corporations out there too. What we are doing is giving money to the church to make it more liked by the community and increase it's membership.

Graplr · #7 06-04-2008, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aklim

What we are doing is giving money to the church to make it more liked by the community and increase it's membership.

To use your common line...so what?

aklim · #8 06-04-2008, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graplr

To use your common line...so what?

Should the state be sponsoring one religion or another? Aren't you handicapping other religions by supporting one or the other? Wasn't there something in the constitution that we might look at that frowns on it?

Mistress · #9 06-04-2008, 01:28 PM

Follow the money.....

Graplr · #10 06-04-2008, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aklim

Should the state be sponsoring one religion or another? Aren't you handicapping other religions by supporting one or the other? Wasn't there something in the constitution that we might look at that frowns on it?

They have the right to get as many grants as they can as well. One can't control which organization/church seeks out money to be used. So to answer your question, no.

aklim · #11 06-04-2008, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graplr

They have the right to get as many grants as they can as well.

So to answer your question, no.

Yes they do. My point is that we should NOT be giving grants to churches.

Which one? There were 3

Graplr · #12 06-04-2008, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aklim

Yes they do. My point is that we should NOT be giving grants to churches.

Which one? There were 3

This is the chicken or the egg. Did the government seek the church out or did the church seek the government out? I know in the public school system it is almost always the school/individual has to seek the grant out.

I don't necessarily disagree with you. I was just responding to your original statement on the topic.

My no was, no the government is not handicapping anything. It is up to the organization to seek grants out. Not the government.