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you benefit because all that worshiping keeps angry god from erupting a volcano unblock Sep 2018 #1
There are no volcanos in Minnesota, nor any geological MineralMan Sep 2018 #2
see? prayer works! unblock Sep 2018 #4
But there are tornadoes and blizzards The Velveteen Ocelot Sep 2018 #32
Well, given the number of Lutherans and Catholics in MN, MineralMan Sep 2018 #33
Not necessarily. Pope George Ringo II Sep 2018 #41
I know that there are some movements underway to look at this issue (in STLMO at least)... SWBTATTReg Sep 2018 #3
Here in St. Paul, MN, we also have churches everywhere in MineralMan Sep 2018 #8
I don't blame you Ohiogal Sep 2018 #5
So a non-profit charity moves in instead qazplm135 Sep 2018 #6
Churches have a special property tax exemption that is not available to MineralMan Sep 2018 #9
ok then extend it to all non-profits qazplm135 Sep 2018 #18
How does that work exactly? Does one wave a magic wand? Major Nikon Sep 2018 #35
probably the same wand qazplm135 Sep 2018 #38
All that takes is congressional action which falls under the realm of possibility Major Nikon Sep 2018 #39
a tax exemption is a tax exemption qazplm135 Sep 2018 #47
The 501(c)(3) status is not limited to churches. Jim Lane Sep 2018 #43
I didn't claim it was Major Nikon Sep 2018 #44
I feel the same about having to pay for sport stadiums. Doreen Sep 2018 #7
Here, one of our professional sports stadiums is funded via MineralMan Sep 2018 #10
That is ironic. Doreen Sep 2018 #11
Well, there was a lot of blowback about funding the NFL team stadium MineralMan Sep 2018 #12
It's not really the same thing Major Nikon Sep 2018 #36
By law, all 501c(3) organizations are exempt from property taxes. guillaumeb Sep 2018 #13
Not so in Minnesota. some 501c(3) organizations have such MineralMan Sep 2018 #14
And of those that do, guillaumeb Sep 2018 #15
Actually, I am opposed. Property taxes should be part of MineralMan Sep 2018 #16
Consistent, agreed, and understood. eom guillaumeb Sep 2018 #17
We use tax policy to encourage things qazplm135 Sep 2018 #20
Who are "We?" MineralMan Sep 2018 #22
Really? qazplm135 Sep 2018 #25
I don't mind paying property taxes for schools. MineralMan Sep 2018 #27
so we benefit from community centers if they are governmental qazplm135 Sep 2018 #37
A church is not a community center for the general public. Voltaire2 Sep 2018 #40
That's a pretty specious qazplm135 Sep 2018 #46
Non-religious community centers do not have MineralMan Sep 2018 #42
So all religious community centers focus on religious indoctrination as a goal qazplm135 Sep 2018 #45
I did not use the word "all" with regard to religious ones. MineralMan Sep 2018 #48
I have known several qazplm135 Sep 2018 #49
"Non-denominational prayers?" MineralMan Sep 2018 #50
yes nondemoninational there are two types qazplm135 Sep 2018 #51
How much evil is OK? MineralMan Sep 2018 #52
evil is relative first of all qazplm135 Sep 2018 #54
Religion is constitutionally off-limits for government. MineralMan Sep 2018 #56
If it's off limits qazplm135 Sep 2018 #58
Render unto Caesar what is Caesar's. MineralMan Sep 2018 #60
Sooo qazplm135 Sep 2018 #62
Taxation is control either way marylandblue Sep 2018 #63
No you don't qazplm135 Sep 2018 #65
Your rent pays the owner's expenses, including taxes marylandblue Sep 2018 #66
As I said above qazplm135 Sep 2018 #69
My point is that "control" is not the issue marylandblue Sep 2018 #74
control is absolutely the issue qazplm135 Sep 2018 #76
So many red herrings, I'll be eating fish for a month marylandblue Sep 2018 #81
point 2 goes all the way back to McCullough qazplm135 Sep 2018 #83
If you think what I wrote is some kind of legal opinion marylandblue Sep 2018 #85
The property owner pays the taxes. You don't think that's figured into MineralMan Sep 2018 #67
lol qazplm135 Sep 2018 #68
So, you don't think landlords set their rental rates MineralMan Sep 2018 #71
I don't know what the landlord decides in setting the rental rates qazplm135 Sep 2018 #72
You seem to be confused about how accounting works marylandblue Sep 2018 #77
The landlord considers all costs, and sets rental rates based on MineralMan Sep 2018 #79
that's a good way to go out of business qazplm135 Sep 2018 #80
Wait, do you own any property, run a business, or have you ever worked in public finance? marylandblue Sep 2018 #82
I didn't remotely say anything you said in the first paragraph qazplm135 Sep 2018 #84
You said a lot of things. You also said a lot of things you didn't make up. marylandblue Sep 2018 #86
You just moved from churches to religious community centers. Voltaire2 Sep 2018 #53
My "introduction" was at the beginning and it wasn't intended to do anything qazplm135 Sep 2018 #55
Religious community centers are a church function. MineralMan Sep 2018 #57
Do you live in St. Paul, MN? If not, I'm not part of your "we." MineralMan Sep 2018 #29
Chiming in with my two cents. Wellstone ruled Sep 2018 #19
Yup. The government should in no way fund religious organizations. MineralMan Sep 2018 #21
Oh my,reminds Wellstone ruled Sep 2018 #23
Well, I'd have probably not had the man's car towed, MineralMan Sep 2018 #24
Understand that those permits are to displayed Wellstone ruled Sep 2018 #26
See, they could have gotten a permit, put out the signs and raised money MineralMan Sep 2018 #28
Rules are for others. Wellstone ruled Sep 2018 #30
Churches pay taxes on land that isn't for religious or educational purposes marylandblue Sep 2018 #59
True in your case, Wellstone ruled Sep 2018 #61
But that makes sense qazplm135 Sep 2018 #70
That's Maryland law, according to MM and Wellstone Ruled, it's different in other states. marylandblue Sep 2018 #73
that's fine qazplm135 Sep 2018 #75
Here, in Michigan MichMary Sep 2018 #78
Here's why Cartoonist Sep 2018 #31
Let the congregations take up collections or something. MineralMan Sep 2018 #34
If the believers' crutches are really all that important to them Mariana Sep 2018 #64
Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Religion»A Note on Tax Exemptions ...»Reply #38