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Originally posted by Nightwalk
reply to post by lonewolf19792000
If this isn't proof that the world is run by a pathocracy then I don't know what is.
My church bought an old rundown bowling alley and skating rink and renovated it into a church and we were being charged 3000 bucks a month in taxes just to keep the doors open, not including electric, water and sanitation and we ended up having to file for tax exemption or we couldn't afford to keep our doors open. So if anyone is to blame it's the government for charging such high taxes on churches.
Originally posted by DriCo04
If this happened to a group of muslims then the public would be outraged.
Originally posted by windword
reply to post by lonewolf19792000
My church bought an old rundown bowling alley and skating rink and renovated it into a church and we were being charged 3000 bucks a month in taxes just to keep the doors open, not including electric, water and sanitation and we ended up having to file for tax exemption or we couldn't afford to keep our doors open. So if anyone is to blame it's the government for charging such high taxes on churches.
I don't understand this.^^
$3,000 a month in taxes, that's $36,000 a year. What kind of taxes. property taxes, income tax, sales tax? Why didn't your "church" declare itself a "church" and file for tax exempt status from the get go, when the building was purchased? Were you folks thinking that you wanted to be independent of government oversight, so you avoided exercising your tax exempt rights?
The government isn't to blame for your church's leadership choosing to avoid filing for 501 c, non profit tax exemption, a government implemented shelter for churches. Since your church did eventually get the tax exemption, it is not the government's fault your church didn't apply sooner.
Originally posted by Kaploink
Originally posted by DriCo04
If this happened to a group of muslims then the public would be outraged.
They would be outraged. They would be outraged over how long it took the city to arrest the person responsible for the zoning violations. Outraged that neighborhood children may have been exposed to Islamic beliefs while the city did nothing.
Originally posted by Benevolent Heretic
Fact Sheet Regarding the Michael Salman Case
The Michael Salman court case is about building safety. Building and safety codes are in-place to protect the safety and welfare of all of our residents. Some of the relevant facts in this case include:
A house of worship is allowed in any zoning district in the City of Phoenix
The case is about the building that is used for regular assembly does not meet construction and fire code requirements for assembly
All houses of worship in the City of Phoenix must conform to the same codes
Looks like this is another case of someone disobeying city codes, then crying "religious persecution".
Due to the regular, reoccurring high vehicular traffic in this quiet residential neighborhood, neighbors repeatedly complained about the public assembly occurring on his property. Because of the multiple, reoccurring complaints, the City investigated the activity and discovered numerous building code violations primarily related to fire safety standards. Once apprised of these violations, the City could be held liable for not enforcing safety code requirements in the event anyone was injured on the premises. Prior to commencement of prosecution, Mr. Salman was asked, repeatedly, to comply with the safety codes of the City. He chose to ignore these requests for voluntary compliance prior to the commencement of any proceedings.
Below is a summary of the case from the City's Law Department, including quotes from the relevant court judgments.
Watch out for FOX news... There's an agenda there.
Originally posted by beezzer
reply to post by Wrabbit2000
The sad part is, that if someone upsets you, you can find a law, some law, ANY law that can be used against him.
Having a church in the neighborhood isn't a bad thing.
Yet people bemoan the fact that this guy was practising a religion while ignoring OBVIOUS dangers like homes that deal drugs, homes that produce meth, homes that are an actual danger to the rest of the neighborhood.
There is a heirarchy in any religious organisation. If you're that steamed about the how and the where and the why then the neighbors should have gone over the guys head.
But using the law like this is wrong, especially when it is so unevenly applied.
Originally posted by article
It's his GOD GIVEN RIGHT... Just as it's his CONSTITUTION GIVEN RIGHT.
miss... holier than thou...
Originally posted by beezzer
The guy used the law to his benefit (tax-exempt status) yet ignored the law when it wasn't to his benefit (building codes).
If he'd have NOT filed for tax exempt status, I'd have still supported him.
But now?
The guy acts and sounds like a politician.