tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5077809256320470141.post7939439525140462657..comments2023-12-25T01:24:48.957-05:00Comments on Republic of Gilead: ADF Promotes "Pulpit Freedom Sunday"Ahabhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14675629709031865432noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5077809256320470141.post-17960203098814509112011-10-04T10:16:13.834-04:002011-10-04T10:16:13.834-04:00Wise Fool -- Wise observations! Churches need to b...Wise Fool -- Wise observations! Churches need to be financially accountable, just like other organizations.Ahabhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14675629709031865432noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5077809256320470141.post-22255608552669520302011-10-03T21:41:30.704-04:002011-10-03T21:41:30.704-04:00Great article Ahab, and great comment CD. Persona...Great article Ahab, and great comment CD. Personally, I'd like to see religions taxed anyway, at least taxed on any portion of their income which isn't directly used charitably, like for a soup kitchen. Not only would this help our debt, but the accountability would benefit our national security as a whole.TWFhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06016277303703254572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5077809256320470141.post-22170014456356972502011-10-03T09:54:44.814-04:002011-10-03T09:54:44.814-04:00Cognitive Dissenter -- As always, you provide a gr...Cognitive Dissenter -- As always, you provide a great perspective on things. I agree wholeheartedly on the issue of accountability, and I'll remember the LDS advice!Ahabhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14675629709031865432noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5077809256320470141.post-63904111929034182342011-10-03T09:23:07.404-04:002011-10-03T09:23:07.404-04:00The reality is that certain churches stand to bene...The reality is that certain churches stand to benefit economically from political involvement. But they demand that their financials be hidden from public view. Therefore, they want to have their cake and eat it too.<br /><br />If the RR folks want the Johnson Amendment repealed, I'm cool with that so long as in a fair exchange, churches then are treated like the businesses they in many cases are. For example, the Mormon Church's financials are super secret but conservative estimates place their annual tithing revenues in the range of $8 billion dollars.<br /><br />The problem with such a business-oriented church's tax exempt status is there is no public accountability when it comes to a church's so-called "not-for-profit" ventures. There is also a lot of gray area between "for profit" and "not-for-profit."<br /><br />They want to repeal the Johnson Amendment and have direct political involvement? I say, have at it. But in exchange you so-called charitable institutions have to report ALL of your financials. Sure, purely charitable contributions should still be tax exempt, but let the public see what you're taking in and what you're claiming. There needs to be accountability.<br /><br />On a related note, Ahab, do you want to know how to make LDS Inc. settle a lawsuit? Make their financials relevant to the case so they have to fully disclose them during discovery. They've never done that and they never will. The threat of such exposure scares the hell out of them. They prefer to keep their members and everyone else in the dark. And corruption thrives on secrecy. So when faced with the compelled disclosure, they always settle. Always.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com