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So, Joel Osteen did a Joe Osteen thing and found a way to get more money in the name of Jesus, this time from the federal government.
Now, Twitter is filled with the perpetually enraged calling for Catholic Churches to be taxed.
Let's talk this through, shall we?
Now, Twitter is filled with the perpetually enraged calling for Catholic Churches to be taxed.
Let's talk this through, shall we?
One of my parishes is among the largest in our diocese, with one of the largest budgets in the diocese.
With that,If we were a business, we still wouldn't qualify for taxes. Why?
Because we don't make money.
We pay our employees, care for the poor and nothing is left afterward.
With that,If we were a business, we still wouldn't qualify for taxes. Why?
Because we don't make money.
We pay our employees, care for the poor and nothing is left afterward.
When the quarantine happened, we couldn't take collections.
Because we couldn't take collections, we couldn't pay our over 100 employees.
Even with this, we doubled down our commitment to help the poor & vulnerable.
The PPP loan allowed us to pay our employees, who then didn't go
Because we couldn't take collections, we couldn't pay our over 100 employees.
Even with this, we doubled down our commitment to help the poor & vulnerable.
The PPP loan allowed us to pay our employees, who then didn't go
on government assistance, all while we continued to feed the poor, pay their heating/electric bills, advocate with them in housing disputes, etc.
As a priest, I pay taxes. So do my employees.
None of us would've been able to do so without the PPP loan.
As a priest, I pay taxes. So do my employees.
None of us would've been able to do so without the PPP loan.
People half educated on the topic tend to fall back on slogans, rather than really diving into it.
And some "Catholic" outlets don't help; exploiting people's anger with salacious headlines that got them clicks & subscribers.
So, let me help with this example:
And some "Catholic" outlets don't help; exploiting people's anger with salacious headlines that got them clicks & subscribers.
So, let me help with this example:
On average, in Catholic Churches in the US, 4% of the people provide 80% of the Churches funding.
Catholics come to Church in need. Even many of those crapping on the Church because of Osteen will come to the Church in grief, mourning, sickness, etc.
We will be there for them.
Catholics come to Church in need. Even many of those crapping on the Church because of Osteen will come to the Church in grief, mourning, sickness, etc.
We will be there for them.
But we will be there with a budget that no secular company could run on.
That no public school could run on.
Why? Because money is tight.
People don't give to Churches like they used to, but rely on Churches more than ever.
Every dollar we get goes to help us do our job.
That no public school could run on.
Why? Because money is tight.
People don't give to Churches like they used to, but rely on Churches more than ever.
Every dollar we get goes to help us do our job.
What's our job in this regard?
Pay our employees.
Take care of the poor & vulnerable.
Educate kids.
The collection of individual Catholic Churches in the US remain the largest provider of free assistance in this country.
We get it done and we do it on a dime.
Pay our employees.
Take care of the poor & vulnerable.
Educate kids.
The collection of individual Catholic Churches in the US remain the largest provider of free assistance in this country.
We get it done and we do it on a dime.
So, while "tax the Churches" might be a fun slogan to type when you are angry, it won't help.
The poor Churches will pay, Joel Osteen and his ilk won't. They'll still be millionaires for Jesus while the Churches bleeding to help will just get more broke.
I hope this helps.
The poor Churches will pay, Joel Osteen and his ilk won't. They'll still be millionaires for Jesus while the Churches bleeding to help will just get more broke.
I hope this helps.
