On Thu, 08 Oct 2009 17:59:03 -0700, nom=de=plume wrote:

"thunder" wrote in message
t...
On Thu, 08 Oct 2009 11:07:07 -0700, nom=de=plume wrote:


An established religion? A tax ID? Sounds like it's government
promoting religion by giving tax breaks and determining who can and
can't claim to be part of a religious order.

I'm not in favor of any tax breaks for religions. If they can stand on
their own, fine. If not, too bad.

That will open it's own can of worms, and how does that fit with the
First Amendment's "the free exercise thereof"?


Not sure I follow... I don't think any religious organization should be
tax exempt. Did you think I wrote something else?

No, I think I understood you. I was trying to make the point that taxing
religions might not pass Constitutional muster, especially with the
present court. I know the First Amendment is talking free as in freedom,
but taxing an entity does restrict it.