Chuck one up for the good guys! SCOTUS

so now we have government back churches that people aren't allowed to challenge in a free country?

how exactly is this good?

You know we don't. You guys are pining about nothing. You're just paranoic about Christianity in politics, culture and society. Sorry, but the West, in general, is rooted in Christian culture. :headbang:

EVery one else can receive federal assistance why not Churchs?

the fact remains that as a free country everything should be subject to popular support, at least when it comes to government dollars being used for financial aid.

the first time the government gives money to an Islamic church (which should take six months tops), I'll save you the trouble of hearing me say "I told you so"

let churches live and die by their supporters I say, if a church is failing why prop it up with government $? This just screams of porkbarrel

There not proping them up, they are helping them in assisting people in strife. Shelter, food kichens and the like. Who more then Churchs flocked to aid in New Orleans?

I dunno, ever since I delivered food to a Baptist Minister with a brand new Corvette in Abilene Texas I've had concerns about churches

local political ads were also paid for by Pioneer Drive Baptist Church as well

Than they can pay some ******* taxes too. Leeches just like illegal immigrants, want freebies and not have to cough up to the kitty, **** that.

that is true, they aren't taxed because they're given special status because they're separate from the government, but yet they can get funding from taxes they don't pay?

Any real Republican should reject this, this goes against the doctrine of small government

so you don't think charity should be taxfree?

charity should be but churches aren't charities by design

they are agenda driven institutions that also are involved in charities, by that measure McDonald's is a charity

If i paid taxes on the money i give to the Church, should it be taxed again?

it's not your income it's their's

if you want to talk taxes there's 4646464644 different taxes which I can't stand, but you're leading me away from the argument

the problem here is that government officials can now give granted money to churches and the public has no legal right to challenge them. The fact that the government needs this protection should tell you something. This is another gateway to pork barrel spending, churches has very loyal voters...

Churches already get away with stuff the United Way couldn't, if the United Way spent the kind of marketing dollars the churches do (mission work) the IRS would take quite a bit more interest in them.

Government wasn't asking for protection. Time will tell.I don't think voluntary mission work can be constituted as marketing dollars?

what other physical mortal purpose does it serve?

If this were oil companies, private schools, political parties, or any other privately controlled entity that this protection was passed for you'd throw a fit. But you give it a pass because "this one is really the word of god", and that's no different then the Taliban ruling their country with their rule of god. It's a "we're the only ones right" kind of system that perpetuates the cycle of religious violence in the world.

time to write DeFazio

You have to admit that without churches, we'd have a whole lot more of messed up people. I think churches provide a plethora of public services that could qualify them to be funded by the government.

I think it's a useful institution for many people but we can also thank religion for Holy War, persecution, allot of Child Molestation, and some Dirty Politics.

I think I said it before but rationally society at large should view Christianity as the uncle that paid your way through college, but molested you.

and again, you're leading away from the debate, the fact of the matter is the American taxpayer has no right to challenge how their tax dollars are spent. How does that effect freedom of Religion, does a Buddhist want their tax dollars going to XYZ church? And you talk about charity, where's the conditional verbage here that states if said dollars are being used for charitable works?

It doesn't, the Churches can use the money for whatever they want. I personally witnessed a political election ad on TV that was paid for by Pioneer Drive Baptist Church in Abilene Texas. So potentially a politician can funnel monies into their church which can then be saved for a contribution for re-election.

boy that's just a great idea

How is this a good thing?

Give the money back to the taxpayers, where it belongs.

There are giving it back, as aid.