Thursday, November 12, 2009

Tax Exempt Status of Churches

Am I the only one who is sick of reading every day about the role the Catholic Bishops are playing in the debate about healthcare? I mean they, virtually by themselves, killed a House compromise on abortion funding and dictated the final version of the bill that was passed. They are trying to do the same thing in the Senate.

The moron (oops...I mean mormon) church was the single biggest contributor to the passage of Prop. 8 in California last year. The catholic church has been promoting anti-abortion legislation ever since the Roe v Wade decision in 1974. Both institutions are too big and protected to be singled out by the IRS for revocation of their privileged status. So let´s not even try to single them out. Let´s just recognize that the idea of special treatment for all religious institutions is no longer appropriate, and end it.

There is a tendency, I think, to believe the tax exempt status should be ended for the churches which take positions we oppose, and to look the other way for those that are active in causes we espouse. But I think we need to be consistent and make all churches subject to taxes.

Actually, there would most likely spring up instantly a new field of creative religious accounting that would allow churches to continue to avoid paying taxes, but we at least need to get rid of the notion that religious institutions are recognized as somehow special. And once the Federal Government has said that churches are no longer special, it opens the door for local governments to start taxing church property. It is a matter of fairness, after all.

And it would take the government out of questions like "is Scientology really a religion?" The government could take the very proper position of "who gives a good god damn?"

I suppose a corollary effect would be that individuals would no longer receive a tax deduction for money they give to their churches. Seems reasonable to me.

According to a website called Revoke LDS Church 501'(c)(3) Status:"

Section 501(c)(3) of US Code Title 26, which governs tax-exempt organizations, reads (emphasis added):

(3) Corporations, and any community chest, fund, or foundation, organized and operated exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, testing for public safety, literary, or educational purposes, or to foster national or international amateur sports competition (but only if no part of its activities involve the provision of athletic facilities or equipment), or for the prevention of cruelty to children or animals, no part of the net earnings of which inures to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual, no substantial part of the activities of which is carrying on propaganda, or otherwise attempting, to influence legislation (except as otherwise provided in subsection (h)), and which does not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distributing of statements), any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office.

(The “otherwise provided” clause does not apply, as the LDS Church, being a church, is a disqualified entity as described in subsection (h).)

If this is the correct wording of the statute, it seems pretty clear cut to me that the Catholic and Mormon churches are violating the law with impunity, and have been for years. It pains me to suggest that all churches need to suffer because of a couple of bad apples....but it doesn´t pain me very much.

University Students: The New Prudes


The university has reversed its decision to expel Geisy Arruda, the student who was harassed for wearing a miniskirt to her night class. I have no doubt that happened because the case was being reported on the front pages of the São Paulo newspapers. One of my first thoughts is that she should still sue the university for the anguish they caused her by reacting as they did. Her case for personal injury may be weakened a little if a subsequent story is true. Supposedly Playboy wants her to pose nude. Her own television show is probably next.

It occurs to me that some of the same people who threatened and harassed her at the university, or who supported the university´s decision to expel her, will probably buy that future Playboy issue and go wank in the bathroom.

Something wierd is going on with prudery at the universities. I was going to write a new prudery at the universities, but maybe it has always been there. Yesterday I saw a story on line about an actress,
Fábia Gouvêa, who provoked stares and insults when she showed up for a public appearance at the University of São Paulo wearing a miniskirt. The report I read seemed almost to blame her for being so stupid as to appear in a miniskirt when the Geisy Arruda story was still fresh in everybody´s mind. Another story I read, but which I can´t locate now (it might have been a reporter´s blog) commented on the fact that she obviously wasn´t wearing a bra either.

Here is something my friend, Carla, sent me about the double standard that exists for men and women.

INJUSTIÇAS
DA LÍNGUA PORTUGUESA.


A Sociedade Feminina Brasileira se queixa do tratamento machista existente na gramática portuguesa, e com razão...
Vejam os exemplos :

Cão ............ ......... ..melhor amigo do homem..
Cadela ............ .......puta.
Vagabundo ............ . homem que não faz nada.
Vagabunda ............ . puta.
Touro ............ ........homem forte.
Vaca ............ ......... .puta.
Pistoleiro ............ ...homem que mata pessoas.
Pistoleira.. ......... ......puta.
Aventureiro ......... ..homem que se arrisca,viajante,desbravador.

Aventureira ............ .puta.
Garoto de rua .........menino pobre, que vive na rua, um coitado.
Garota de rua ..........puta.
Homem da vida........ pessoa letrada pela sabedoria adquirida ao longo da vida.
Mulher da vida .......puta.
O galinha ............ ...o 'bonzão', que traça todas.
A Galinha ............ ...puta.
Tiozinho ............ .....irmão mais novo do pai.
Tiazinha ............ ......puta.
Feiticeiro ............ ...conhecedor de alquimias.
Feiticeira ............ ....puta.
Roberto Jefferson, Zé Dirceu, Maluf, ACM, Jader Barbalho, Eurico Miranda, Renan Calheiros, Lula, Delúbio .........políticos.
A mãe deles ........... putas.
E pra finalizar...
Puto ............ ......... nervoso, irritado, bravo.
Puta ............. ........ puta.

Depois de ler este e.mail:
Homem ............ .... vai sorrir.
Mulher ............ .... vai ficar puta...






Sunday, November 8, 2009

The Taliban Run the University


Here is a follow up to the post about "The Taliban in the University." It is being reported in today´s paper that the student who was harassed and abused....has been expelled. That´s right, the victim has been punished.

According to the newspaper, the university´s announcement said that the investigating board concluded that there was "flagrent disprect to ethical principles, to the dignity of the university and to morality" on the part of the victim. University spokesmen say the woman was being deliberately provocative.

The lawyer for the woman, if I am reading the paper properly, says he is "perplexed" and "stunned" and is looking into ways of contesting the university´s decision. He is talking about a "defense strategy." Granted there are probably cultural differences too subtle for my understanding, but to me this cries out now for an offensive strategy. I´d want my lawyer telling the university "we´ll see your motherfucking ass in court." This woman should have human rights lawyers falling all over themselves to take her case. Hopefully that will happen.

By the way, the young woman is quoted as saying "I haven´t received confirmation of anything as of yet, except through the media. It is a lack of respect. I don´t believe this is happening." She continues, "I was the victim. How is it possible to be expelled? The victim is expelled from the university? That is absurd." It is hard to argue with her.

http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/folha/educacao/ult305u649355.shtml

I wish I had a better understanding of the Brazilian culture. This seems like a good cause with which to get involved.

Thanks again to Alexandre for not letting me miss this latest development in the story.