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Monday, March 28, 2016

TO TITHE? SHARING THE LOAD! LORD LORD!

March 28, 2016
A late start today.  A late image from the Porch. I like it that the Shoe Factory is better lit in the latter day sun.  

My attention is on the TV news. Something came up as I started this entry.  It is something that was on my mind earlier today by coincidence.  Evidently, Bernie Sanders may think that churches paying a fair share of their income is a good idea.  I agree.

Most churches ask that parishioners tithe: dedicate ten percent of their income to keep their church vital.  It makes sense.  Folks come together to support a common goal. A common good.  Ten percent of the more than a thousand Faithful at the church of a friend in Orange County would come to what?? If each working member contributed (and could take a tax deduction for..) let's say an average of $800.00 a week?  Fair?  So.. x 10 percent  equals $80.00 times a thousand every week?  Is that right?  $80,000.00 a week x 50 equals yikes.. $4Million a year.  That pays for the upkeep of the property (upon which there may be no property tax) and staff. $300K a month? Wow!

So.. what if just that church agreed to tithe to the United States with ten percent of their gross income as they request from their faithful? From the OC church that would be about $400K.  

Of course, this is all speculation and my quick peek at the numbers on line are not helpful. But, lets say that of the over 300 Million citizens of the USA, that a third of them, 100 Million attend church on a regular basis and tithe say.. only twenty bucks a week to their respective churches.. that's about a thousand dollars a year which would turn into One Hundred Billion Dollars. Is my math anywhere in the ball park? Wow.

 And, if the churches to whom they tithed then shared ten percent of those donations, that would mean an extra $10Billion annually to pay for the same things that we all pay our individual taxes for and enjoy: highways, schools, police and fire protection, etc.  

I have deliberately low balled this figure, but you get the idea.  If churches collect ten percent from their faithful and the faithful support their individual churches, then, why not the body of the churches support the country that they practice their religion in?  AND. the parishioners still get to deduct their donations from their individual income taxes.  

The only way a society can survive is when every member of that society contributes to the common good.   Is it wonky to think that all institutions currently exempt should be so exclusive from paying a fair share to support our country? 

Hmmm..  
March 28, 2016 
michaelsheehan

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