Joel Osteen's Texas megachurch received $4.4M COVID-19 stimulus loan

If you're looking for a refutation, then I would say that religion was created to explain the mysteries of the universe.

Once it became organized, THEN (for the most part) it became a profiteering enterprise.

 

Perhaps you could actually try to back up your nasty slur with some actual evidence. Perhaps something archeological involving the Edolo tribe in New Guinea.

 

Why would I refute it? People need someone to rule over them and take money off their backs. Whether it's a religion with a deity or the statist religion in which people enshrine some humans with divine authority. I was agreeing with you and extending the topic.

 

Religions are simply another form of government. The similarities are obvious.

 

Taxes are paid by employees, the Church is not paying taxes. The loan was received by the Church.

Good point. I guess it invalidates my proof that God exists.
After some searching I found:
"The Internal Revenue Service automatically considers churches exempt (though many churches file anyway in an effort to assuage concerns of donors.) The reasoning behind making churches tax-exempt and unburdened by IRS procedures stems from a First Amendment-based concern to prevent government involvement with religion".

 

To specifically keep employees on the payroll. I assume you have the same objections to all non-profits that received the loans, such as planned parenthood.

 

This is not about whether the Judeo Christian or any other god exist. Yes Churches come under a 501 provision. So again do you think a recognized under the tax code religious establishment should have to pay some kind of income tax on donations received? What about political parties? What about environmental and civil rights groups? How about the Reverend Raphael Warnock running for one of the Georgia Senate seats and income he receives for his ministering under Reverend Wright?
IOW should we eliminate tax exempt status for all qualifying non-profits or is it just religious establishments you are going after? And yes one of the trade offs is that religious establishments cannot engage in direct political activity without that status being endangered. They can't politic from the pulpit or endorse candidates or issues. I think that should be more closely enforce do you believe we should get rid of that separation of church and state? Once you start taxing them then they have every right to engage in direct politics.

 

It appears to be perfectly legal. That's the problem. People are taking these 1% loans and parlaying them into investment returns for personal profit.

 

How many times does it have to be explained that was then this is now, what was posed to you is present tense and has to do with THIS stimulus.

HB
" There is way too many legit Small Businesses dying that need help thanks to Democrats shutting them down."

Florida reopens state's economy despite ongoing pandemic
September 25, 2020, 5:19 PM
https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/florida-governor-reopening-states-economy-spread-73244205

 

What an awful comment. Republican governors are also implementing restrictions, because they are trying to save lives. This sort of embarrassing, immoral rhetoric is why we are a global embarrassment, in terms of the pandemic.

 

And many used it to keep their doors open and employees off the street.

Are these the first people to take advantage of easy government money.? Will they be the last?

Nope.

 

Indeed. And I don't need reminded that people have done and will do this, but thank you. The entire discussion is that we should probably change that up a bit. And this disgusting human Joel Osteen is being held up as an example of why.

 

My point is that all non-profit organizations should be treated the same, but The Internal Revenue Service automatically considers churches exempt.
Non profit organization needs to prove it is not for profit.

 

They are all treated the same under the 501 provisions, other non-profits get the same deductions. Ministers get a tax exempt for the money they get paid for ministering. But not from other income they may have. But if we are going to treat them all the same and that means no tax deductions for religious institutions then that means none for other non-profits and we tax their donations too. That what you want? And it means religious establishment can engage in direct political actions. That what you want?

 

This one isn't and the attempt to say he is dates back to April. And other governments and their citizens should look at themselves before claiming we should be embarrassed about ourselves. If you are then you are entirely misguided.

 

I think we have charged several with misuse of the funds and if there are others off with their heads. Has anyone proved the funds this church received were misused?