"In any crime - follow the money"

[Minimalist]

Catholic scumbags at it again!

http://www.boston.com/news/world/europe/...story.html

BERLIN (AP) — The road to heaven is paved with more than good intentions for Germany’s 24 million Catholics. If they don’t pay their religious taxes, they will be denied sacraments, including weddings, baptisms and funerals.

A decree issued last week by the country’s bishops cast a spotlight on the longstanding practice in Germany and a handful of other European countries in which governments tax registered believers and then hand over the money to the religious institutions.

In Germany, Catholics, Protestants and Jews pay a surcharge of up to nine percent on their income tax bills — or about €56 ($72) a month for a single person earning a pre-tax monthly salary of about €3,500 ($4,500).

Actually a law like this would do wonders for the number of declared atheists in the US!

[5thHorseman]

In Poland everyone pays a church tax, according to a Polish friend.

[Polaris]

Well guess you have never been a member of a club where they have dues.

[Cinjin]

In Poland everyone pays a church tax, according to a Polish friend.

Everyone? Even people who are not members?
If that's the case, that's bull shit and I officially declare my painfully religious country still better than Poland.

[Faith No More]

Well guess you have never been a member of a club where they have dues.

How many other clubs convince you that your soul is in danger of eternal torture and punishment if redemption is not sought while simultaneously denying your ability to gain that redemption if you do not pay a fee? That's extortion, plain and simple.

[Minimalist]

Well guess you have never been a member of a club where they have dues.

"Dues" are voluntary.

[Doubting_Thomas]

church taxes exist in quite a few countries in Europe, and are sometimes required for church weddings and burials.

There's been lots on the news in Europe, it seems the Church is trying to raise more cash. But at face value it looks like the church is shooting itself in the foot, as many of the apathetic/lapsed Catholics will be excommunicated (although they avoid using that term). Atheism is the largest "religion" in Germany, followed by Catholicism and Protestantism (mostly Lutheran I'd guess - anyone know?) with only 1% between them. Maybe now Protestantism will creep ahead in the stats, and Atheism will gain in its lead.

[Polaris]

Well guess you have never been a member of a club where they have dues.

"Dues" are voluntary.

What kind of club have you been a member of then that collected dues? Yeah. Voluntary if you want to remain an active member of the club. If you don't want to pay, then you get kicked out.

[Darkstar]

What kind of club have you been a member of then that collected dues? Yeah. Voluntary if you want to remain an active member of the club. If you don't want to pay, then you get kicked out.

The point he's trying to make is that normal clubs don't tell you that you are going to face eternal damnation if you don't remain an active member, and remain totally obedient to their figurehead. That is called a cult. I think the word 'cult' has come to be associated with the suicidal ones, but it doesn't have to be suicidal to be a cult.

[IATIA]

I guess even god cannot get money without going through the Federal Reserve.