rjb@akgua.UUCP (R.J. Brown [Bob]) (09/30/85)
A UPI story on 9/27 shows the Senate has voted to
"crack down" on Satanism and Witchcraft via the
denial of tax exemptions to any cult promoting
either of the above belief systems.
While I'm in favor of neither Satanism nor Occult
practices of any kind, I've got enough sense in my
pea brain to know that if we are going to deny the
tax status to one religious group on the basis of
its unpopularity then it could be MY group next.
You ought to let Senator Helms and your Senators know
how you feel on this matter.
Perhaps it is time to rethink the whole issue of tax
exemptions for religion, in that, in some sense my
tax money goes to support Moonies, Satanists, etc, etc -
groups whose doctrines and principles I abhor. And
certainly someone like Rich Rosen, for instance, might
be put off by the fact that his tax money is supporting
ANY religious organization. I sincerely sympathize with
that position and would not object if the deduction were
completely abolished.
(Note: I WILL continue to take the deduction
until it is eliminated...but that could be argued on a
complete different basis).
Besides, if your pivotal motivation in giving is the tax
break....what can I say...maybe you ought to just keep
your money.
Bob Brown {...ihnp4!akgua!rjb}padraig@utastro.UUCP (Padraig Houlahan) (10/02/85)
> (Note: I WILL continue to take the deduction > until it is eliminated...but that could be argued on a > complete different basis). > > Bob Brown {...ihnp4!akgua!rjb} Of course! Padraig Houlahan.
kurtzman@uscvax.UUCP (Stephen Kurtzman) (10/03/85)
If congress has passed laws which discriminate against a particular religious group (such as Satanists) then that law is in direct violation of the constitution. The congressmen that voted for the law know that. This is an example of how our government can harass an unpopular religious sect. It will take a court battle, probably all the way to the supreme court, to overturn this rule. Of course, the congressmen that passed the law hope that the expenses required to take a case like this all the way to the supreme court will be great enough to stop anyone from protecting our constitution.
rjb@akgua.UUCP (R.J. Brown [Bob]) (10/08/85)
Wait a minute Stephen !
This foolishness has not passed in the House yet.
We still can head these yucks off at the pass by writing
our Representatives.
Bob Brown {...ihnp4!akgua!rjb}