THE CHURCH SHOULD NOT BE EXEMPTED from PAYING TAXES

By Jose Alejandrino
14 October 2017

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THE HYPOCRISY OF SOME BISHOPS

Archbishop Soc Villegas is calling for another Edsa to protest against President Duterte.

The Constitution clearly decrees the separation of Church and State. Some bishops, by interfering in affairs of State, are sanctioning the violation of the Constitution. They claim it is a matter of conscience. When Cory abrogated the Marcos Constitution and assumed rev powers, the Catholic hierarchy silently applauded. Now they are against Duterte assuming similar powers. For them, the Constitution is a mere scrap of paper when it is convenient. If the Church is the first to violate the Constitution, how does it expect others to follow it? What is food for the goose is food for the gander.

A matter of conscience, they say. Conscience? Let's talk of conscience. The Catholic Church is one of the richest corporations in the country. Since the time of the Spanish Friars, it has not ceased to accumulate wealth despite the warnings of Jesus. In Matthew 6:24 Jesus said you cannot serve both God and money. In Matthew 6:19-20 he warned his disciples not to accumulate earthly goods that do not last. Heaven is where your treasure is, the Lord said. In Luke 3:11 Jesus talked of the need to share wealth with the needy. "He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none, and he that hath meat let him do likewise." And the apostle Paul in 1 Timothy 6:10 said that love of wealth disqualifies a man for leadership of the Church. He tells Timothy, "For the love of money is the root of all evil which while some coveted after they have erred from the faith and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." Has the Church distributed its wealth to the needy?

The Catholic Church in the Philippines is exempted from taxation. Its clergy claim they have the right as citizens to voice their protest against the government and its policies. Really? Citizens pay taxes. By the same logic, the Church should also not be exempt from taxation. It cannot have its cake and eat it too. It's time to remedy this anomaly when drawing up a new Constitution.

Source: FB/Rakhan Alex