Birdnow's Aviary

October 11, 2019

Beto O'Rourke Wants to Pull Tax exempt Status from Churches over Gay Marriage

Timothy Birdnow

Beto O'Rourke wants to pull the Catholic Church's tax exemption.

From P.J. Media:

Barack Obama's IRS may have targeted conservative groups for extra scrutiny, but Obama never pledged to strip tax-exempt status from organizations that disagreed with his position on an issue.

Yet on Thursday, former Rep. Beto O'Rourke (D-Texas) said he would strip tax-exempt status from any religious organization that supports traditional marriage, defined as one man and one woman. In fact, his position essentially amounts to a government preference for pro-gay marriage religious bodies that likely violates the Establishment Clause.

CNN's Don Lemon quoted O'Rourke's policy on LGBT issues, which states:"Freedom of religion is a fundamental right but it should not be used to discriminate."

"Do you think religious institutions â€” like colleges, churches, charities â€” should they lose their tax-exempt status if they oppose same-sex marriage?" Lemon asked.

"Yes," O'Rourke replied â€” to loud applause from the audience.

I rather think this might be a good thing, insofar as it would perhaps finally wake the Catholic Church from her accomodationist

slumber. Maybe, although with Francis in charge I wouldn't bet on it.

BTW, government control of the content of Sunday sermons began during the LBJ Administration; Johnson was getting creamed by pastors at masses and prayer meetings, so he devised a scheme whereby he increased the tax exemptions but only if the churches stayed completely out of politics. The churches all caved, preferring the money to actual obedience to God.

They've been bought and paid for ever since, and the Catholic Church is one of the worst. They NEVER preach about Catholic doctrine on Sundays. They won't come out against abortion in any but the mildest ways, will not call out gay marriage or any other such thing. Politicians who promote abortion, for instance, are still welcome in the pews - a tacit acceptance of their anti-Christian beliefs.

Maybe losing the exemption would wake the slumbering heirarchy.

Of course, those tax exemptions are there because the Church is not a for-profit organization and it gives a lot away in charity. Of course, it also does not take money through any sort of normal income stream, but rather from donations. It's hard to see how Beto will be able to justify taxing the Church. But if they do the Church should tax HIM with ex-communication. O'Rourke claims to be a practicing Catholic.

If the RCC were even remotely true to her faith she would have kicked an apostate like this out long ago.

Posted by: Timothy Birdnow at 07:04 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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1 At least we can take heart in the knowledge that Beto (often called Beta, which I think fits better than his chosen monikker) has about as much chance gaining the White House as I have becoming Head Coach of the New England Patriots.

Posted by: Dana Mathewson at October 11, 2019 11:55 PM (9Lpke)

2 That is true, Dana. Beta is an "also-ran".

Posted by: Timothy Birdnow at October 12, 2019 07:31 AM (SKAoX)

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