German Catholic Church to flock: No pay, No pray!

[klr]

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/art ... 72e21037b0

BERLIN (AP) — A Catholic reform group in Germany criticized the country's bishops Monday for declaring that believers who refuse to pay religious taxes won't be able to receive the sacrament, become godparents or work in church institutions.

A century-old agreement with the state adds up to nine percent to the income tax bill of Germany's 25 million registered Roman Catholics, earning the church more than €4 billion ($5.2 billion) annually. The same tax applies to Protestants and Jews.

The churches use the income to pay employees' salaries and fund social work such as care for the elderly. The churches themselves aren't taxed by the state but instead pay an administrative fee for the collection of religious tax. Donations represent a far smaller share of the churches' income than in the United States.

The Catholic bishops' decree in Germany last week is part of an attempt to stem the steady flow of people who opt out of paying religious taxes. It declares that they have committed a "grave lapse" and effectively left the church.

But the group We are Church — which claims to represent tens of thousands of grassroots Catholics — said the bishops' decision to freeze believers out if they don't pay up was "the wrong signal at the wrong time."

continued here: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/art ... 72e21037b0

So you can effectively excommunicate yourself and save money at the same time. Sounds like a win-win to me.

[Bella Fortuna]

If people are dumb enough to hook themselves up with a church, they can deal with the rules that are set.

[klr]

If people are dumb enough to hook themselves up with a church, they can deal with the rules that are set.

In Germany, you pay religious tax by default to your church of choice whatever brand of nonsense you were brought up in.

I see the hand of Pope Benjy in this. Get rid of all the fence-sitters and fair-weather Catholics, and keep just the real believers. All ten of them.

[Svartalf]

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/art ... 72e21037b0

BERLIN (AP) — A Catholic reform group in Germany criticized the country's bishops Monday for declaring that believers who refuse to pay religious taxes won't be able to receive the sacrament, become godparents or work in church institutions.

A century-old agreement with the state adds up to nine percent to the income tax bill of Germany's 25 million registered Roman Catholics, earning the church more than €4 billion ($5.2 billion) annually. The same tax applies to Protestants and Jews.

The churches use the income to pay employees' salaries and fund social work such as care for the elderly. The churches themselves aren't taxed by the state but instead pay an administrative fee for the collection of religious tax. Donations represent a far smaller share of the churches' income than in the United States.

The Catholic bishops' decree in Germany last week is part of an attempt to stem the steady flow of people who opt out of paying religious taxes. It declares that they have committed a "grave lapse" and effectively left the church.

But the group We are Church — which claims to represent tens of thousands of grassroots Catholics — said the bishops' decision to freeze believers out if they don't pay up was "the wrong signal at the wrong time."

continued here: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/art ... 72e21037b0

So you can effectively excommunicate yourself and save money at the same time. Sounds like a win-win to me.

One that is obviously being used more and more... that thing is not about cutting the self excommunicants, it's about the cheapskates who want their cake and eating it too and who refuse to declare religion to escape the church tax, and then still try going to church and whatnot..

[Bella Fortuna]

If people are dumb enough to hook themselves up with a church, they can deal with the rules that are set.

In Germany, you pay religious tax by default to your church of choice whatever brand of nonsense you were brought up in.

I see the hand of Pope Benjy in this. Get rid of all the fence-sitters and fair-weather Catholics, and keep just the real believers. All ten of them.

My understanding is that they register or something in a given faith, and then are taxed accordingly. If they want to align themselves with these churches, they've got to lump it!

[klr]

Yup, running a religion ain't cheap. "You can't run the Church on Hail Marys", as Archbishop Marcinkus once famously observed.

[Bella Fortuna]

Wonder if I can get something going over there and make a few ducats...

[Cormac]

If people are dumb enough to hook themselves up with a church, they can deal with the rules that are set.

In Germany, you pay religious tax by default to your church of choice whatever brand of nonsense you were brought up in.

I see the hand of Pope Benjy in this. Get rid of all the fence-sitters and fair-weather Catholics, and keep just the real believers. All ten of them.

My understanding is that they register or something in a given faith, and then are taxed accordingly. If they want to align themselves with these churches, they've got to lump it!

I don't think so. As far as I am aware, the state assumes, and deducts it along with PAYE taxes. You have to formally instruct them not to.

Meanwhile, in Ireland, the Church officially revoked the method that had been available to defect from the church because too many people were doing it. (That isn't the reason the Vatican gives, but then the Vatican is a seething pit of despicable vipers).

[Cormac]

Wonder if I can get something going over there and make a few ducats...

I think you either need to have inspired, been the victim of, or formed an amicable Concordat with the Third Reich to qualify.

[Tero]

Well, they denied Luther, serves them right.

[Svartalf]

Rcognize Calvin or pay double taxes, heretic:

[JimC]

One can only hope that statements like this will hasten the decline and fall of the church...

(but their schools can mutate into non-religious private schools...)

[Mysturji]

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/art ... 72e21037b0

BERLIN (AP) — A Catholic reform group in Germany criticized the country's bishops Monday for declaring that believers who refuse to pay religious taxes won't be able to receive the sacrament, become godparents or work in church institutions.

A century-old agreement with the state adds up to nine percent to the income tax bill of Germany's 25 million registered Roman Catholics, earning the church more than €4 billion ($5.2 billion) annually. The same tax applies to Protestants and Jews.

The churches use the income to pay employees' salaries and fund social work such as care for the elderly. The churches themselves aren't taxed by the state but instead pay an administrative fee for the collection of religious tax. Donations represent a far smaller share of the churches' income than in the United States.

The Catholic bishops' decree in Germany last week is part of an attempt to stem the steady flow of people who opt out of paying religious taxes. It declares that they have committed a "grave lapse" and effectively left the church.

But the group We are Church — which claims to represent tens of thousands of grassroots Catholics — said the bishops' decision to freeze believers out if they don't pay up was "the wrong signal at the wrong time."

continued here: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/art ... 72e21037b0

So you can effectively excommunicate yourself and save money at the same time. Sounds like a win-win to me.

I honestly never thought I'd ever say this, but... I kinda wish I was German.

[Mysturji]

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/art ... 72e21037b0

BERLIN (AP) — A Catholic reform group in Germany criticized the country's bishops Monday for declaring that believers who refuse to pay religious taxes won't be able to receive the sacrament, become godparents or work in church institutions.

A century-old agreement with the state adds up to nine percent to the income tax bill of Germany's 25 million registered Roman Catholics, earning the church more than €4 billion ($5.2 billion) annually. The same tax applies to Protestants and Jews.

The churches use the income to pay employees' salaries and fund social work such as care for the elderly. The churches themselves aren't taxed by the state but instead pay an administrative fee for the collection of religious tax. Donations represent a far smaller share of the churches' income than in the United States.

The Catholic bishops' decree in Germany last week is part of an attempt to stem the steady flow of people who opt out of paying religious taxes. It declares that they have committed a "grave lapse" and effectively left the church.

But the group We are Church — which claims to represent tens of thousands of grassroots Catholics — said the bishops' decision to freeze believers out if they don't pay up was "the wrong signal at the wrong time."

continued here: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/art ... 72e21037b0

So you can effectively excommunicate yourself and save money at the same time. Sounds like a win-win to me.

One that is obviously being used more and more... that thing is not about cutting the self excommunicants, it's about the cheapskates who want their cake and eating it too and who refuse to declare religion to escape the church tax, and then still try going to church and whatnot..

How very Christian of them.
No, I'm not being ironic. They are.