Catholic church to lose property tax exemption in Italy

[tay]

Italy’s Catholic Church will be forced to pay taxes starting in 2013 after the EU pressured the country’s government to pass a controversial law stripping the Church of its historic property tax exemption.

­The Catholic Church in Italy is excluded from paying taxes on its land if at least a part of a Church property is used non-commercially – for instance, a chapel in a bed-and-breakfast.

"The regulatory framework will be definite by January 1, 2013 – the start of the fiscal year – and will fully respect the [European] Community law," Italian premier Mario Monti's government said in a statement on Tuesday.

The move could net Italy revenues of 500 million to 2 billion euros annually across the country, municipal government associations said. The extra income from previously exempt properties in Rome alone – including hotels, restaurants and sports centers – could reach 25.5 million euros a year, La Repubblica daily newspaper reported.


more

http://rt.com/news/italy-church-tax-exemption-339/



and


http://forums.canadiancontent.net/u...-how-taxpayers-subsidize-religion-united.html

 

[L Gilbert]

http://forums.canadiancontent.net/news/110144-should-religions-entitled-tax-exempt.html

 

[WLDB]

Good. An organization that protects pedophiles and rapists should not get tax exemptions. Particularly when they are outlets of a separate state.

 

[tay]

http://forums.canadiancontent.net/news/110144-should-religions-entitled-tax-exempt.html

Yes I saw that thread in The News category and as I commented to the author "Did you forget to post something?"


It seemed like a commentary by the author with no 'in the news' story connected to it. Maybe the author of that thread should have continued in this thread since ..............


http://forums.canadiancontent.net/u...-how-taxpayers-subsidize-religion-united.html



Property owned by religious groups and income gathered by religious groups are mostly Tax Exempt.

But should they be Tax Exempt if they are going to get involved in such things as voicing their positions on political issues or environmental issues?? Are they crossing the line from being a religious group to advocacy group?

What about the Muslim religion, some say the qran is not a religious book but a philosophy of life book??

 

[captain morgan]

Good. An organization that protects pedophiles and rapists should not get tax exemptions. Particularly when they are outlets of a separate state.

I seem to recall that there have been quite a few situations of teachers abusing kids in their charge.... Any comments on what society ought to do to the entire system/institution on this issue?

 

[Kreskin]

Italy’s Catholic Church will be forced to pay taxes starting in 2013 after the EU pressured the country’s government to pass a controversial law stripping the Church of its historic property tax exemption.

­The Catholic Church in Italy is excluded from paying taxes on its land if at least a part of a Church property is used non-commercially – for instance, a chapel in a bed-and-breakfast.

"The regulatory framework will be definite by January 1, 2013 – the start of the fiscal year – and will fully respect the [European] Community law," Italian premier Mario Monti's government said in a statement on Tuesday.

The move could net Italy revenues of 500 million to 2 billion euros annually across the country, municipal government associations said. The extra income from previously exempt properties in Rome alone – including hotels, restaurants and sports centers – could reach 25.5 million euros a year, La Repubblica daily newspaper reported.


more

http://rt.com/news/italy-church-tax-exemption-339/



and


http://forums.canadiancontent.net/u...-how-taxpayers-subsidize-religion-united.html

Amen

 

[WLDB]

I seem to recall that there have been quite a few situations of teachers abusing kids in their charge.... Any comments on what society ought to do to the entire system/institution on this issue?

Fire the teachers and prosecute them.

 

[gerryh]

Good. An organization that protects pedophiles and rapists should not get tax exemptions. Particularly when they are outlets of a separate state.

I assume you will be petitioning the government to do the same when it comes to the Boy Scouts?

 

[captain morgan]

Fire the teachers and prosecute them.

Great; just as long as we're on the same page

I assume you will be petitioning the government to do the same when it comes to the Boy Scouts?

Lets not forget about the psychiatrists, massage therapists and chiropractors.

I'll bet that it won't be too difficult to find a raft of examples from other religious groups, medical professions, cultural groups, etc.. Maybe we'll see the usual suspects recognize all of them as opposed to focusing exclusively on the RC

 

[PoliticalNick]

Good. An organization that protects pedophiles and rapists should not get tax exemptions. Particularly when they are outlets of a separate state.

You are confusing issues here. Whether the church or any particular religion is a charitable organization and deserves a tax exemption has nothing to do with pedophilia. If you did a little research you would find estimates of 3-9% of the population of our planet have tendencies leaning toward pedophilia. This is not limited to the church it means 3-9% of everybody. Teachers, Judges, Lawyers, politicians, pharmacists....you get the point. As pedophilia is not limited to the church neither is hiding the facts. Do you think the bar association will start outing any lawyers or judges that are into kids? Do you think the cops will start ratting out their own as pedos? I think not. These associations will close ranks and obfuscate the truth in order to maintain their appearance and good standing.

Pedophilia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The prevalence of pedophilia in the general population is not known,[3][61] but is estimated to be lower than 5% based on several smaller studies with prevalence rates between 3% and 9%

This in no way should be taken as me defending pedos or defending the church's actions surrounding the issue, I am merely pointing out it is an issue throughout all society and not limited to the clergy.

 

[tay]

The Pope has announced a new advertising scheme to pay the taxes......

 

[damngrumpy]

It is time the churches paid their taxes on property like everyone else and not just
the Catholics all churches. The Jesus Business should be seen as just that a
business.
The churches should receive tax exception for the charitable works they do such
as helping the homeless and hungry and the down and out. They should pay on
collections and the ten percent the parishioners hand over.
Televangelists should pay up as well.

 

[WLDB]

I assume you will be petitioning the government to do the same when it comes to the Boy Scouts?

If they are tax exempt, sure.

You are confusing issues here. Whether the church or any particular religion is a charitable organization and deserves a tax exemption has nothing to do with pedophilia.

I'm well aware of that. I simply find it insane that an organization which is openly criminal is continuing to receive tax exempt status. They should be taxed and those responsible for protecting the pedophiles should be charged. Seeing as the current Pope took part in such activities before he was Pope it would include him and the church itself.

 

[Liberalman]

It's about time religions pay their fair share of taxes

 

[petros]

I never knew you people enjoyed taxes so much.

Should the RC yank all it's comunity services which are open to all faiths?

 

[TenPenny]

I never knew you people enjoyed taxes so much.

Should the RC yank all it's comunity services which are open to all faiths?

Sure, why not?

 

[captain morgan]

I never knew you people enjoyed taxes so much.

Should the RC yank all it's comunity services which are open to all faiths?

Interesting point... i suppose that the next logical step is to prohibit any charities from issuing tax deductible receipts

 

[JLM]

Interesting point... i suppose that the next logical step is to prohibit any charities from issuing tax deductible receipts

You want to see donations plummet? :smile:

 

[karrie]

I don't know the percentages, dollars, and cents of it, but, organizations that pay out a significant portion of their 'income' into charitable works accessible to the general population (ie, based off income and situation not race or creed), should be elligible for tax exempt status.

To boil it down simply... if an organization is helping to alleviate the amount the government has to spend, why charge them taxes?

I could really care less if it's Muslims, Boy Scouts, gun clubs, or hairdressers united. Set a dollar amount or a percentage of income generated, that they have to give back. Most religions fit the bill, whether people like it or not.

 

[Highball]

The tiniest nation is n this world is the Vatican and it is also the wealthiest. By estimates (they'll never reveal the amounts) they have over two trillion just in cash deposits in the Vatican Bank. Right now they could buy Greece, Portugal and Spain all at one time.