PRI: Public Radio International

Germans angered over Catholic Church's decision to deny sacraments for church tax scofflaws

Thu, 04 Oct 2012 12:42:00 -0500

Germany has long required people who are members of a church or a synagogue to pay a tax that supports the church and its operations. But as more Catholics decline to pay, the church is telling them if they don't pay, they won't be allowed to receive church sacraments.

Jacqueline Turner

Thu, 04 Oct 2012 16:07:02 -0500

Thank God we have the right of religious freedom in the United States, though it is under siege by the HHS Mandate and similar government actions, and still maintain the separation of church and state. It appears that this law is made to disenfranchise the Church and drive people away, and it's apparently working.

On a side note, I find it curious that Muslim mosques do not appear to have to pay this religious tax. Why is that, I wonder?

bdbailey

Tue, 16 Oct 2012 08:34:39 -0500

So the Germans stole land from the catholics in the 1800's and now makes christians, catholics and jews pay tax, but not muslims. Hmm. I thought they were a democracy. I won't be buying any more from them.Check you bar codes. We don't tax german catholics do we?

lloyd

Mon, 22 Oct 2012 21:57:44 -0500

The law was made to support the church. The money goes to the church. The government collects money and gives it to the church. I suppose they should start supporting mosques since they now have so many Muslims.

Jim Hazard

Mon, 29 Oct 2012 13:41:07 -0500

This is wrong on so many levels it's hard to know where to begin. The Church cannot in conscience refuse the Sacraments to any Catholic based on what or if they contribute to the Church.It is the worst kind of heresy and totally in contradiction to the teachings of Christ. Shame on Germany and the Vatican for allowing this to go on.