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Bill: Religious Institutions Bill
Details
Submitted by[?]: Baltusia Parliamentary Party
Status[?]: passed
Votes: This is an ordinary bill. It requires more yes votes than no votes. This bill will not pass any sooner than the deadline.
Voting deadline: September 4590
Description[?]:
| There is said to be an ancient proverb: "If the camel once gets his nose in the tent, his body will soon follow." This expression is especially pertinent in the tax exemption context. Currently, the churches and religious institutions of Bathusia are paying tax. Under BPP proposals, these institutions would receive a tax-free status, following the principle that there is no surer way to destroy the free exercise of religion than to tax it. If the government is allowed to tax churches (or to condition a tax-free status on a church refraining from the free exercise of religion), the camel's nose is under the tent, and its body is sure to follow. A tax exemption for churches and religious institutions creates only a minimal and remote involvement between church and state, which is far less so than under taxation of churches. Furthermore, the power to tax involves the power to destroy: taxing churches breaks down the healthy separation of church and state and leads to the destruction of the free exercise of religion. We endorse the healthy wall of separation between state and church, as has been articulated by numerous philosophers of merit. Under the present conditions, the free exercise of religion cannot survive. The camel has had its nose under the flaps of the church tent for far too long. It's time to push him outside, where he belongs. Joint Statement, Sam Mack, Shadow SoS for Education and Culture Secretary, and Charlie Parnell, Shadow Home Secretary, BPP |
Proposals
Article 1
Proposal[?] to change Government policy concerning the visitation of foreign missionaries.
Old value:: The government determines which missionaries are permitted to visit on a person by person basis.
Current: The government has no policy concerning the visitation of foreign missionaries.
Proposed: The government requires foreign missionaries to register with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Article 2
Proposal[?] to change The state's policy concerning religious clothing.
Old value:: It is not permitted to wear religious clothing or religious symbols in public buildings.
Current: There are no laws regulating the wearing of religious clothing and the wearing of religious symbols.
Proposed: There are no laws regulating the wearing of religious clothing and the wearing of religious symbols.
Article 3
Proposal[?] to change
Taxation of religious institutions.
Old value:: Religions are treated as companies, and all profit is taxed, however, charitable donations are not taxed.
Current: Religions are treated as companies, and all profit is taxed, however, charitable donations are not taxed.
Proposed: Recognized religions are not taxed.
Debate
These messages have been posted to debate on this bill:
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| Vote | Seats | ||||
| yes |
Total Seats: 267 | ||||
| no | Total Seats: 205 | ||||
| abstain | Total Seats: 63 |
| Random fact: The grey space in the east is populated by the forum-based countries, known in-game as the former colonies or the "Third World". These countries are managed by the Third World Coordinator but players can request control of individual countries in the Third World Control Requests thread: http://forum.particracy.net/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=8302 |
| Random quote: "Presidency, n. The greased pig in the field game of American politics." - Ambrose Bierce |