To include churches for income tax

[mannyamador]

All churches are exempt from tax. That is essential to maintaining the separation of church and state.

In the US, religious institutions are exempt automatically. Some, of course, make the mistake of applying for a special (and optional) exemption which bans them from engaging in politics (or they lose exemption). But if they don't apply for this optional exemption, they remain untaxed.

[romantic_guy08]

Well considering that Catholic schools usually have the highest tuition fees (i.e. Ateneo, La Salle, UST etc.)...

And I don't believe that priests, nuns don't actually get anything, based on personal experience, priests/nuns have shares during the mass collections...and my mom personally witnessed these instances in a house of a priest...catholic run hospitals are also some of the most expensive (i.e. if I'm not mistaken St. Lukes, Soccor)...

Then why don't basic tax laws be also applied to them? They account their revenues for the year, either through donations or profit from the institutions that they run and for whatever social services they perform, they file it as a tax break...just like what private organizations are doing.

Since separation of Church and state is already being discussed here, in reality what is really the boundary between this two organizations? If you are going to look at that clause of the constitutions, it was meant to be reciprocral, state cannot touch the church ( this is already happening i.e. no tax), but what about the church? We can readily see that the church is "interfering" with state affairs to the point of even lobbying (i.e. Reproductive Health Biil). Maybe this will also lead to the question of Gov. Panlilio's election as governor of Pampana, this raises the question, has he crossed that boundary? Someone from the church actually joining politics and becoming a part of a government (state) institution?

[mannyamador]

Then why don't basic tax laws be also applied to them? They account their revenues for the year, either through donations or profit from the institutions that they run and for whatever social services they perform, they file it as a tax break...just like what private organizations are doing.

In which case they won't be taxed because there are no real profits.

If you are going to look at that clause of the constitutions, it was meant to be reciprocral, state cannot touch the church ( this is already happening i.e. no tax), but what about the church?

That is UNTRUE. It is NOT reciprocal and was NEVER MEANT TO BE. The government has far more power since it has control of the police and the army. It can therefore impose its will. To remain independent, ALL other groups must be able to participate in politics and to express their views WITHOUT government interference.

That is why separation of Church and state has NEVER barred priests and religious leaders from entering into politics and even running for election. That separation has always been intended to curb GOVERNMENT power.

That is why you have only TWO important components: 1. Non-establishment of a state religion (government cannot impose a state religion); 2. Freedom of practice of religion government cannot impede it).

There is absolutely no provision in the Constitution whatsoever prohibiting any religious group or person from participating in politics. Check the Constitution.

[tokidoki_v2.1]

mao. and the president must always have a religious consultant at hand when it comes to moral issues. Ambot lang pud ngano usa ra kabuok. I don't know why they don't have muslims and other church consultants when it comes to issues like these.

i always ask myself unsay labot sa cardinal sa desisyon ni GMA?! Pwede mopahawa na siya? But then again the nature of RCC is also by itself rooted by politics. Remember their voting for pope?

[chad_tukes]

if there is no provision in the Constitution prohibiting the Church from entering politics then i don't see why the Church shouldn't pay taxes. if the Church is an independent entity with the power to decide for itself, what more the government which has more power on almost anything. the Church shouldn't be an exemption.

[mannyamador]

if there is no provision in the Constitution prohibiting the Church from entering politics then i don't see why the Church shouldn't pay taxes.

The Church ALREADY contributes more to the government than the taxes it would pay. Do the math. Try putting a fair market value on the hospitals, orphanages, feeding centers, and all the many other services the Church provides because this lousy government can't. In the end, the government will OWE MONEY TO THE CHURCH.

Now try removing all the services and facilities run and owned by religious institutions and watch this country's social services totally collapse!

Fair is fair. The Church (and other religions) is doing MORE than its share. Instead of being taxed, the fair thing to do would be to pay them. But they don't even ask for it. It is therefore UNFAIR to tax the Church.

[chad_tukes]

it's ironic to exempt the Church from being taxed when they rack up so much money. you have to understand that only a small percentage of that money goes to hospitals, orphanages, and feeding centers. where do the big percentage go? that remains to be undeclared, no wonder why Vatican is so rich.

now do the math and imagine what it would be like if the Church is TAXED.

[johnny22aa]

yeah. i agree. the church deserved to be taxed. it is business... in the guise of the "name of God". no matter how holy the church appears, they are still earning from it. it is still business. it is that simple. vatican is the mother corporation, the archdioceses & dioceses in every country are its branches subsidiaries (like archdiocese in manila, cebu, new york), the jesuits, lasalles, dominicans, franciscans, opus dei, el shadaii & other denominations are its franchises (they are using the name "roman catholic"). imagine how each of these entities own huge & billions worth of institutions. it is so clear that this is still business. and their service they provide to us humans is "preaching God" through education, hospitals, media and etc. they may have a fair share in our economic development but they are still earning from it.

[grovestreet]

YouTube - JFK on the Separation of Church and State

JFK's speech on the separation of church and state.

[eax]

yeah. i agree. the church deserved to be taxed. it is business... in the guise of the "name of God". no matter how holy the church appears, they are still earning from it. it is still business. it is that simple. vatican is the mother corporation, the archdioceses & dioceses in every country are its branches subsidiaries (like archdiocese in manila, cebu, new york), the jesuits, lasalles, dominicans, franciscans, opus dei, el shadaii & other denominations are its franchises (they are using the name "roman catholic"). imagine how each of these entities own huge & billions worth of institutions. it is so clear that this is still business. and their service they provide to us humans is "preaching God" through education, hospitals, media and etc. they may have a fair share in our economic development but they are still earning from it.

Mao bitaw ang Catholic Church (or Religion) is the successful business.