Amid Economic Crisis, Spain Ponders Taxing Catholic Church Property

[rayzoray]

It is all happening! "keep on the watch"

Tax the church

I like this

and because the Church’s holdings there are so vast (España Laica, a pro-secularism group, estimates that were it not for the exemption, the church would annually owe 2.5 to 3 billion euros in property taxes),

Read more: http://world.time.com/2012/06/07/amid-economic-crisis-spain-ponders-taxing-catholic-church-property/#ixzz1xBC2BKJI

[Hallett 82]

Love to see that story.

Italy is waking up to many rorts the Church uses to avoid tax too.

Local businesses are complaining that as they run their bars, hotels and Bed & Breakfasts at the normal rate, pay wages and taxes due . .the Vatican owns many similar establishments that are tax free to keep costs down for Catholic Pilgrims who come to visit, so competing in close proximity to higher cost places.

Undercover reporters have caught owners of the tax free establishments renting to high paying business men and rich tourists and even setting out Prospectus style ' future planners' so groups of well heeled tourists can visit the ' pilgrim protected' tax free hotels. The tourists don't know that they are in such places and pay the normal going rate for rooms that the Church is letting out and not paying any tax on. THAT is fraud.