Spring Break
Tax churches for hating homosexuals
Alex Stephens
Issue date: 2/13/09 Section: Opinion
What's more important than feeding starving children, sheltering the homeless, building hospitals and relieving struggling families? Keeping homosexuals down in California, obviously.
After its passage in November, Proposition 8 banned gay marriage in California. It was a harsh blow to the gay and lesbian community. The passage highlighted the strength of organized interests and their divinely righteous ability to stamp out equality wherever it rears its sinful head.
Campaign contribution efforts to ensure the success of Proposition 8 exceeded $40 million, indicating that it was of some great importance to many people.
Among the list of top donors were individuals like Alan Ashton from Utah (he invented Word Perfect), and groups like the National Organization for Marriage based in New Jersey.
Isn't America great? The freedom to legally persecute your own countrymen from thousands of miles away just can't be topped. The Proposition was on the California ballot, for Californians to decide, and not be influenced by people who live outside of California. Since when did that become an acceptable practice?
What a cool concept too though -- are you uncomfortable with other peoples' lifestyles, does it offend your God? Just toss some money around and you too can sleep well at night knowing that only a man and a woman can legally marry each other in some distant state.
More disturbing is that tax-exempt religious institutions contributed vast quantities of money to get Proposition 8 passed -- and they are still considered tax exempt.
Headquartered in New Haven, Connecticut, The Knights of Columbus is a right-wing political branch of the Catholic Church. They donated about $1.5 million toward Proposition 8, according to anti-Prop 8 group Californians Against Hate.
Under tax code 501(c)(8), they are considered a "fraternal beneficiary society" because they provide health care to their members. Within the leniency of the code, they may "[engage] in political activity, including intervention in political campaigns … without jeopardizing [their] exempt status."
After its passage in November, Proposition 8 banned gay marriage in California. It was a harsh blow to the gay and lesbian community. The passage highlighted the strength of organized interests and their divinely righteous ability to stamp out equality wherever it rears its sinful head.
Campaign contribution efforts to ensure the success of Proposition 8 exceeded $40 million, indicating that it was of some great importance to many people.
Among the list of top donors were individuals like Alan Ashton from Utah (he invented Word Perfect), and groups like the National Organization for Marriage based in New Jersey.
Isn't America great? The freedom to legally persecute your own countrymen from thousands of miles away just can't be topped. The Proposition was on the California ballot, for Californians to decide, and not be influenced by people who live outside of California. Since when did that become an acceptable practice?
What a cool concept too though -- are you uncomfortable with other peoples' lifestyles, does it offend your God? Just toss some money around and you too can sleep well at night knowing that only a man and a woman can legally marry each other in some distant state.
More disturbing is that tax-exempt religious institutions contributed vast quantities of money to get Proposition 8 passed -- and they are still considered tax exempt.
Headquartered in New Haven, Connecticut, The Knights of Columbus is a right-wing political branch of the Catholic Church. They donated about $1.5 million toward Proposition 8, according to anti-Prop 8 group Californians Against Hate.
Under tax code 501(c)(8), they are considered a "fraternal beneficiary society" because they provide health care to their members. Within the leniency of the code, they may "[engage] in political activity, including intervention in political campaigns … without jeopardizing [their] exempt status."
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 44
Kaelyn Wood
posted 2/13/09 @ 8:57 AM MST
As an out of state student from California I was sincerely offended when I read this article. The article made it seem that all Californians are against gay marriage, and that is truly false. (Continued…)
Rick McHattie
posted 2/13/09 @ 9:51 AM MST
The old church vs. state debate. If the state interferes with any church issue (i.e. the display of a cross or any other religious symbol) then the church cries foul and lots of church going members get their feathers all ruffled. (Continued…)
Peace Love
posted 2/13/09 @ 11:58 AM MST
Hate Taxes.
This is good stuff.
I think we just solved the deficit problem.
Think of all the taxes we could increase by the use of Hate Taxes:
Higher taxes on pro choice women for hating their babies. (Continued…)
daniel garza
posted 2/13/09 @ 12:50 PM MST
While i know of your intentions (and can commiserate) i'm afraid your article leaves quite a bit to be assumed.
Though i know that the Collegian online isn't exactly the best place to go for unbiased political media, i must say that while your point is poignant, your execution is somewhat faulty. (Continued…)
Craig Hawley
posted 2/13/09 @ 7:41 PM MST
Yes by all means just forget the fact that the Bible teaches against the Gay lifestyle.
The Church is following God's words.
And Gays don't want equality , they want to take a word that has traditional value to heterosexuals and destroy it ans it's meaning , by adding their lifestyle to it. (Continued…)
Andy H
posted 2/14/09 @ 11:44 AM MST
Churches (you meant Christians I think) don't hate. It is taught to love each other no matter the error some are in regarding the word of God. And we all are in error at one time or another. (Continued…)
Juanita C. S.
posted 2/19/09 @ 11:49 AM MST
Sure, it's a little inflammatory, but too many people don't THINK until someone says something inflammatory...that said...
The real issue (in my most humble opinion) is that while Focus, et al, AND their followers are BELIEF-based entities they regard their BELIEFS as fact - they don't differentiate because to them their belief IS FACT. (Continued…)
Jordan
posted 2/19/09 @ 5:55 PM MST
Ah, how amusing it is to watch the trivial details of mysticism and god (whose only definition is that which cannot be known by man) be argued vehemently by those who all believe (through their emotions and not their rational faculty) essentially the same thing. (Continued…)
Registered Independent
posted 2/19/09 @ 8:45 PM MST
Response to Juanita:
Your posting is so incredibly misinformed that I hardly know where to begin.
You are not "making up for" the taxes of anyone. (Continued…)
Geodude
posted 2/21/09 @ 7:58 AM MST
Registered Independent,
Simply because Juanita did not mention the tax exempt status of other non-profit groups like Planned Parenthood does NOT mean she is unaware of them. (Continued…)
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