Indeed. They should.PFVA wrote:Not quite related but i thought of mentioning that in my 90% Catholic country the Church has been ordered to pay taxes on unused property (and they have plenty of it) just like everybody else. Even though some representatives of Church complained i didn't see any catholics in general complaining probably because they think they should.
It's not at all insignificant that they don't:
Folks complain about Apple, Google and others not paying enough tax. But the religious institutions, combined, form a pretty massive "corporation" themselves, which owns a rather gargantuan amount of real estate - think about it, from nearly every small village to the biggest cities, they've all got churches, mosques and synagogues - and yet legally pays zero contributions to society.
They cynically target the poor and dispossessed, yet don't pay a single penny towards welfare. Nor even something as simple as just paying their fair share for the upkeep of roads, street lighting and bin collection, for pity's sake.
As George Carlin simply put it: "If holy people are so interested in politics, government and public policy, then let them pay the price of admission like everyone else".
