Florida church sends $1,000 collection notice to single mother because she didn’t tithe

a reply to: AugustusMasonicus

Both names could have the same root somewhere else in history fairly easily.

originally posted by: Krazysh0t

originally posted by: ISawItFirst
Nope. They also have a privelage to solicit donations. They also have a privelage to bot allow voting on church business and not print your name in their list of members if you don't donate (enough).

This isn't solicitation. It is coercion.

Sending an unenforceable bill as a solicitation attempt is very scummy, but how many fake checks etc do we get in the mail everyday.

There is nothing here to indicate a law violation.


The quite from the law on page 2 is not applicable.

Then I guess an audit wouldn't turn up any wrong doing then.

The IRS even being able to audit a church is a clear 1st ammendment violation. Any law they run foul of in the tax code is as well.

Why? The church could just easily pay taxes.

I'm an atheist so obviously I do not support evangelical money grubbing.

However, what are you going to report them to the IRS for? Aggressive fund raising? Being mean? Can't remain part of the club unless you kick in the cash? That describes the majority of the non-profit, "charity" mail I get.

a reply to: NavyDoc

Yea, I've been thinking about this for awhile now and I was wrong initially. I was letting my emotions get the better of me. Scientology not only does this, they will destroy your life if you don't pay them. And they have tax exempt status.

a reply to: darkbake
"Then Solomon began to build the house of the Lord in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah" 2 Chronicles ch3 v1
I think it's safe to assume that the church consciously named themselves from that verse.

a reply to: darkbake

Unless that history dates to the 1900's when Tolkien invented his languages, doubtful.

His etymology of the invented languages is quite extensive and documented.

originally posted by: Krazysh0t
a reply to: NavyDoc

Yea, I've been thinking about this for awhile now and I was wrong initially. I was letting my emotions get the better of me. Scientology not only does this, they will destroy your life if you don't pay them. And they have tax exempt status.

I agree. It's tough. You don't want tax free bullies but you also want equitable treatment of everyone. In this case, the lady could just walk away if she wanted, In scientology, they make very real and actionable acts.

a reply to: TrueBrit

Which is how it should be done, anyway.

Wow...I was always under the impression that tithing (or however it's spelled...) is voluntary. Expected, but voluntary.

I knew there was a reason I have no use for dogmatic religion...this wasn't it, but it's added to the list.

a reply to: Unity_99

She should switch to Catholic, Anglican, United, they can't make the poor pay there.

But they might make their children pay...in more ways than one.

www.abc.net.au...

Catholic Church dismisses reports it will still use Ellis defence to block sexual abuse victim legal action
The World Today By Thomas Oriti
Posted 18 May 2015, 1:42pm

The Catholic Church has dismissed reports it is planning to continue relying on a legal defence that blocks victims of child sexual abuse from taking action.

In 2007 the New South Wales Court of Appeal found the Catholic Church could not be sued for compensation because it was not a legal entity.

a reply to: NavyDoc

Yea, it just angers me that a church would take advantage of its congregation like that, but then again churches have been doing that for WAY longer than this church has existed. It's probably a religious institution at this point.

I still kind of want to have them audited, but that is more the anger talking at this point than any real desire to pursue real legal consequences.

originally posted by: Krazysh0t
a reply to: NavyDoc

Yea, it just angers me that a church would take advantage of its congregation like that, but then again churches have been doing that for WAY longer than this church has existed. It's probably a religious institution at this point.

I still kind of want to have them audited, but that is more the anger talking at this point than any real desire to pursue real legal consequences.

I understand. Quite often I find my libertarian principles in conflict with my emotional reactions.

a reply to: superman2012

If people lived by the message all religions have as their base, then we wouldn't be in trouble.

But dont forget that the Politicians who write the laws also go to church...they benefit by keeping the masses in fear of hell and for salvation of their souls

a reply to: Spider879

if I had the power and thank Gaawd I don't I would phase out religious institutions or tax them heavily they have served their purpose, they gave us great art and music they were there in times of need and served as a meeting place for information and comfort that said, it's high time to phase out the rot is in and cannot be undone.

Really ?

The predominantly black church, which has operated for more than a century, asked her to pay a yearly $250 anniversary fee and another $150 for Mount Moriah Day – amounting to $1,000, some of which would be set aside to pay off church debt.

Sounds racist!.

Mathew 10:5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 6 Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. 7 As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.

9 “Do not get any gold or silver or copper to take with you in your belts, 10 Take no bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals or a staff, for the worker is worth his keep. 11 Whatever town or village you enter, search there for some worthy person and stay at their house until you leave. 12 As you enter the home, give it your greeting. 13 If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. 14 If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet. 15 Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.

In the last days there would also be a great apostasy..................... I believe you are seeing that now.

As for churches.... Where two or more are gathered, I am there also.
Those Christians here will know well what I say, while those not of the Christian persuasion will attack and mock. That was also prophesied for the end times. It will get worse, much worse.

And those churches of this type will not be preaching the gospel of God

A priest, at the end of mass gathers up all the collection baskets, and takes them into the courtyard, behind the church.

There the priest hurls the money, into the air as high as he can.

A parishioner sees him, at a distance tossing the money up, over and over, then watches it all fall to the ground.

After about an 10 minutes the priest stops, then backs his car up and loads all the money, into the trunk.

A day later the parishioner sees the priest, at the car dealership he works at buying a brand new Cadillac. Infuriated the parishioner confronts the priest and says "I saw you in the courtyard stealing the money".

The priest calmly answers: "My son what you saw is easily explainable. Every mass I take the money into the courtyard, after the collection is complete, I toss everything into the air. What God wants he takes, everything that falls to the ground is mine."

a reply to: NthOther

'm not saying they're not jerks. I'm saying that the only reason you guys are so worked up about it is because it's a religion doing it.

Yep they sure don't care when their 'holy' government does the same thing, and worse.

The tithe was for the Levitical priesthood who did not have an inheritance in the promise land. The tithe has been abolished under the New Covenant. We are to give as the Holy Spirit prompts us. It is not to be given under compulsion but freely as the HS directs.
a reply to: Spider879

a reply to: AugustusMasonicus

Unless that history dates to the 1900's when Tolkien invented his languages, doubtful.

Oh spoilsports so its not about Moria/Moriah going for the jugular and the loot...silly me. About 30 years ago I had first heard that the senior Masons in a particular lodge actively assisted in helping their novice brothers rewrite their wills upon entering the Order. But I guess the only surprised ones were the widows at reading of the will.

These "churches" need Jesus. Not American happy-go-lucky Jesus, but serious table-flippin' Jesus.
Leaders who behave like his are going to have a lot to answer for.

"And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves. And He *said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer’; but you are making it a robbers’ den.”

And the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them."

originally posted by: NthOther

originally posted by: Krazysh0t

I like how you adopt this Christian persecution complex when this church is CLEARLY in the wrong here. This is equivalent to the middle ages when you had to bribe the clergy for salvation.

A) I'm not a Christian.

B) In the middle ages, you couldn't just go to another church down the street if one pissed you off.

I'm not saying they're not jerks. I'm saying that the only reason you guys are so worked up about it is because it's a religion doing it.

That is just your own projection incase you hadn't noticed it yourself by now.

originally posted by: Krazysh0t

I still kind of want to have them audited, but that is more the anger talking at this point than any real desire to pursue real legal consequences.

And that right there is the only point I was ever trying to make. You're having an emotional reaction because you hate religious people.

Couldn't have expounded it better myself.