Church asked to Preach 'Tax Evasion is a Sin'
Thou shalt not steal...from the state.
Posted: Wednesday, August 1, 2007, 13:56 (BST)
Thou shalt not steal...from the state.
That's the message Italy's prime minister wants Catholic priests to preach from their pulpits to help him stamp out rampant tax evasion robbing the state of sorely needed cash.
"A third of Italians heavily evade taxes," Romano Prodi lamented in an interview with Italy's prominent Catholic magazine, Famiglia Cristiana, widely quoted in Wednesday's newspapers.
"Why, when I go to Mass, is this issue almost never touched on in the homilies?"
Italy is struggling under the weight of Europe's largest debt pile in absolute terms. The government estimates the cost of tax evasion at 7 percent of gross domestic product, or about 100 billion euros ($137 billion) a year.
It says this is nearly double the rate of evasion in France, Germany and Britain and nearly four times that of Austria, the Netherlands and Ireland.
One Catholic leader said that while the Church strongly encouraged citizens to pay taxes, Italy's government also needed to prove to taxpayers that their money was being well spent if it wanted more cooperation.
"If at times the Church is cautious on the presentation of this issue, it is because the tax system does not always seem fair," Bruno Forte, archbishop of the central Italian diocese of Chieti-Vasto, told Italy's Corriere della Sera newspaper.
Prodi's campaign against tax evasion is one of the hallmarks of his unpopular government, and the government says it is part of the reason for a 6 percent hike in state revenues in the first half of 2007.
The premier, under pressure to cut taxes, suggested too many Italians still lie on their tax returns. He questioned out loud whether it was possible that only 300,000 taxpayers -- out of a total 40 million -- made more than 100,000 euros a year.
"To change this mindset, it's up to everyone, starting with the teachers, to do their part ... the Church included," Prodi said.
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Added: Tuesday, August 7, 2007, 18:48 (BST)
"as long at they do not conflict with God's Law."
Jack, stealing is defined as taking another's property against their will. "Thou shalt not steal is considered by most to be God's law. Since taxation is simply a euphemism for theft (albeit conducted under color of law) the conflict you referred to is obviously there in any case involving taxation. The fact that for hundreds of years Christianity has affiliated itself with states and corrupted itself by teaching its adherents to obey the state (even when it conflicts with God's law) does nothing to alleviate the root problem. Every time the state applies so-called laws that do not treat all men (and women) as equals, Christians ought to be supporting the "lawbreakers" who see that the consequences of the initiation of force, by the state or anyone else, are always detrimental.
Donald, Morristown, NJ
Added: Tuesday, August 7, 2007, 4:58 (BST)
Jack Grooms
> "Jesus said to give unto Caesar what belonged to Caesar."
Yes and most of the crowd he addressed understood that nothing in Isreal rightly belonged to Caesar, the illegal invader. In fact he was probably advocating tax evasion himself. The fact that this verse is used to justify taxes is proof that Christians simply aren't serious about interpreting the "word of god" correctly.
Michae. Price, Sydney Australia
Added: Thursday, August 2, 2007, 18:13 (BST)
Jesus said to give unto Caesar what belonged to Caesar. The Apostle Paul states that as Christians we are to be obedient to the laws of our country as long at they do not conflict with God's Law.
Jack Grooms, Charleston, SC USA
Added: Thursday, August 2, 2007, 9:15 (BST)
Tell the Church to start paying property taxes first, then perhaps distribute some of their piles of gold in the Vatican, THEN they can lecture others on fiscal matters. Just the usual hypocrisy from Ratzo and his boys.
Geoff Boone, Drumnadrochit, Scotland
Added: Thursday, August 2, 2007, 2:38 (BST)
"The rich need not give more nor shall the poor give less." - Exodus 30:15
John, Kansas City, USA
Added: Wednesday, August 1, 2007, 16:17 (BST)
The only sin here is that people will believe this rubbish.
Taxation is theft by the state, appeased by most people, to steal from others for their own gain (welfare/bureaucrat), for an overall loss in wealth.
The state is in debt? Spend less! Does that make sense to the state? Oh, no.
Steve, Canada
Added: Wednesday, August 1, 2007, 15:59 (BST)
Your head line should read: Catholic priests to preach that tax evasion is a sin. Unless you're a multi-national corporation headquartered in the Vatican whose extensive properties are largely exempt from taxation. Then it's OK
Long Time Catholic, UK
