Wednesday, May 19, 2004
Unitarians don't get tax-exempt
The state of Texas has denied Unitarians tax-exempt religious status because the church "does not have one system of belief." As Julia notes, Presidents John Adams and John Quincy Adams were sufficiently convinced of the Unitarians' religiosity that they actually were Unitarians.
Never before -- not in this state or any other -- has a government agency denied Unitarians tax-exempt status because of the group's religious philosophy, church officials say. Strayhorn's ruling clearly infringes upon religious liberties, said Dan Althoff, board president for the Denison congregation that was rejected for tax exemption by the comptroller's office.
They key difference is, of course, that Unitarians used to be a "Christian" group that was opposed to trinitarianism and had a rather set doctrine that went along with that and a "bishop" in Romania who had something to do with governance. Now, however, they encourage people to choose another religion that they like and come to Unitarian worship services, and this is a religion?
Yeah, there have been some changes.
Never before -- not in this state or any other -- has a government agency denied Unitarians tax-exempt status because of the group's religious philosophy, church officials say. Strayhorn's ruling clearly infringes upon religious liberties, said Dan Althoff, board president for the Denison congregation that was rejected for tax exemption by the comptroller's office.
They key difference is, of course, that Unitarians used to be a "Christian" group that was opposed to trinitarianism and had a rather set doctrine that went along with that and a "bishop" in Romania who had something to do with governance. Now, however, they encourage people to choose another religion that they like and come to Unitarian worship services, and this is a religion?
Yeah, there have been some changes.
