Court upholds German Catholic Church membership tax

[EnglishLady]

Oh this just is so wrong (IMO of course)



Germany's Roman Catholics can only remain part of the Church if they pay a membership tax, a court has ruled.

All Germans who are officially registered as Catholics, Protestants or Jews pay a religious tax of 8-9% on their annual income tax bill.

This had been challenged by a retired law professor who said he wanted to remain a Catholic but not pay the tax.

Last week, a new bishops' decree warned that anyone not paying the tax would be denied the right to religious rites.

The German church levy was introduced in 1803 in compensation for the nationalisation of religious property.

More

BBC News - Court upholds German Catholic Church membership tax

 

[Turtle]

You gotta pay to pray.

 

[EnglishLady]

You gotta pay to pray.

So it would seem

Have you ever been to the Vatican? Omy they could feed the whole world for some time with what was in there!!

 

[cheri1122]

I don't recall specifics, but there was a story years ago about kids being 'suspended' from a Catholic school because their parents weren't putting what the church felt they could afford in the Sunday collection plate - though their [hefty] tuition was always paid.
Never been to Rome, but the Bishop's Palace in Galveston, Tx, made me feel nauseous, with all the rare and costly [if not priceless] materials and furnishings provided [for the use of one man!] by the thousands of very poor parishioners. Seemed pretty warped to me, that kids went without shoes so the Bishop could live in luxury. Wasn't there something about poverty in the vows?