Would you pay a "Church tax"?

mike65 · 24-09-2012 12:05PM #1

I find the very concept bizarre but several European countries have one.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/21/german-bishops-church-tax_n_1903038.html?utm_hp_ref=religion

In Germany the Catholic Church is getting worried by the numbers who are opting out and so are threatening to withdraw all privileges, which includes work in Catholic run bodies like schools and hospitals.

How are Churches funded here? Is it just by passing the plate, donations and maybe sales of land/property?

Would you prefer an official tax with an opt out/in that carries sanctions/privileges?

Big Nasty · 24-09-2012 12:06PM

Would I fcuk! :eek:

Biggins · 24-09-2012 12:08PM

MCMLXXV wrote: »

Would I fcuk! :eek:

Took the VERY words out of my mouth.
Like fcuk I would.

Its bad enough we are now likely going to pay a "Household media" tax!

Light Switch · 24-09-2012 12:08PM

They can **** off.

Irishcrx · 24-09-2012 12:09PM

Eh no...TBH I can't see their even being a church in 200 years. The worlds evolving fast and they are being left behind. Like it or not science will eventually prove them wrong and that's already showing with numbers dropping all over the world.

Of course there will always be certain types of religion/extremeists etc.

jokettle · 24-09-2012 12:09PM

Isn't it similar to paying tithes? And if so, wasn't that common enough here not too long ago?

admiralofthefleet · 24-09-2012 12:10PM

what about us non catholics? i feel sorry as it is for people paying into the catholic cult but now the animals could force a tax on people.
let the animal in the vatican sell off all the nazi gold and art

Rented Mule · 24-09-2012 12:10PM

Pay a tax to support one of the richest tax-free entities in the world ?

You wonder why the country is ****ed ?

rainbow kirby · 24-09-2012 12:11PM

Wouldn't give the Catholic church the steam off my piss, tbh.

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar · 24-09-2012 12:12PM

TIL some people don't know what opt-out means

eth0 · 24-09-2012 12:12PM

I'd pay it long before I'd pay the household charge / property tax

Slurryface · 24-09-2012 12:13PM

mike65 wrote: »

I find the very concept bizarre but several European countries have one.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/21/german-bishops-church-tax_n_1903038.html?utm_hp_ref=religion

In Germany the Catholic Church is getting worried by the numbers who are opting out and so are threatening to withdraw all privileges, which includes work in Catholic run bodies like schools and hospitals.

How are Churches funded here? Is it just by passing the plate, donations and maybe sales of land/property?

Would you prefer an official tax with an opt out/in that carries sanctions/privileges?

I do not believe that it is the role of the State to collect fundsw on behalf on third party organizatios, particularly organizations with such a dubious reputation as organized religions.
I would be oppossed.

demanufactured · 24-09-2012 12:14PM

No

Sergeant · 24-09-2012 12:15PM

It isn't mandatory to pay in Germany, and is also collected by the regional authorities on behalf of the various Protestant denominations. If you don't believe or want to pay then you do not need to, however you also lose the right to get married in a Catholic church, have your children christened by the church, be buried in a graveyard ran by the denomination in question and so forth.

MJ23 · 24-09-2012 12:16PM

A Cult tax ? No way.

Fromthetrees · 24-09-2012 12:22PM

Call it, 'the collection of compensation for victims of paedo priests tax'.

Zebra3 · 24-09-2012 12:23PM

mike65 wrote: »

How are Churches funded here?

Priests rape kids, taxpayer pays the compo, bishops who facilitated the raping get off scot free.

PogMoThoin · 24-09-2012 12:23PM

I'd like to see the church pay tax

Dravokivich · 24-09-2012 12:24PM

Who will it go to?

What about other religions?

Apanachi · 24-09-2012 12:27PM

Sergeant wrote: »

however you also lose the right to get married in a Catholic church, have your children christened by the church, be buried in a graveyard ran by the denomination in question and so forth.

Never paid a cent (or pfennig as it was back then) in Church tax, but I still got my daughters Christened in Germany

super_furry · 24-09-2012 12:28PM

Pay to pray. And here was me thinking they'd stopped selling indulgences.

The Catholic Corporation is undergoing some turbulent financial times, give them your money or go to hell.

wendell borton · 24-09-2012 12:30PM

Rented Mule wrote: »

Pay a tax to support one of the richest tax-free entities in the world ?

You wonder why the country is ****ed ?

We dont pay it here and we are still fooked.

It seems fair to me, if your avail of the services provided by the church funerals, weddings etc. you should pay for them.
There would also be a lot more financial acountability as the gov. would know what income the churches take in.

ejmaztec · 24-09-2012 12:34PM

I thing the RCC should be taxed to cover the compensation that they wriggled out of.

super_furry · 24-09-2012 12:35PM

wendell borton wrote: »

It seems fair to me, if your avail of the services provided by the church funerals, weddings etc. you should pay for them. .

And you do. Anyone getting married or buried in Ireland will have to hand over a brown envelope of cash to the priest. Often you have to pay the priest and pay for the church hire.

Stinicker · 24-09-2012 12:38PM

I'd wish they'd introduce this here, it would quickly sort the religious from the non-religious and allow those of us who truly hate the evil church to get excommunicated for one and for all.

Cienciano · 24-09-2012 12:44PM

I'd love if they brought it in. I wouldn't pay it though.

Mountjoy Mugger · 24-09-2012 12:54PM

I'd be buggered, if they tried it.

krudler · 24-09-2012 12:54PM

Id love if it came in, lets see how many "Catholics" are actually in this country.

BunShopVoyeur · 24-09-2012 12:57PM

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha hahahahahahahahahahahaha

Cheers for that

Capt'n Midnight · 24-09-2012 01:01PM

Father O' Malley answers the phone.

'Hello, is this Father O'Malley?'
'It is'

'This is the Revenue, income tax department. Can you help us?'
'I can.'

'Do you know a Ted Houlihan?'
'I do'

'Is he a member of your congregation?'
'He is'

'Did he donate €10,000 to the church?'
'He will.'

GLaDOS · 24-09-2012 01:01PM

Would quickly see a drop in the number of people claiming to be Catholic in the census if this was brought in

Would you pay a "Church tax"?

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