Courtesy of the Telegraph: The Church currently pays tax on several properties it owns that are commercial enterprises but is exempt if at least some of the activities on the property are "non-commercial" - for example a chapel in a hotel.
"The regulatory framework will be definite by January 1, 2013 - the start of the fiscal year - and will fully respect the (European) Community law," Prime Minister Mario Monti's government said in a statement late Tuesday.
In February, the government had amended Italy's property tax law to end the Church's privileges amid rising calls for the Vatican to share in debt crisis sacrifices and in the face of intense scrutiny from the European Commission.
On Monday the Council of State, Italy's highest ranking court for administrative litigation, rejected the decree. But the government insisted everyone would pay property tax, Church included.
Way to go Italy!
I literally dream of the day when the churches in America are stripped of their tax exempt status and made to pay their fair share to support the services, like street repair, police support, and firefighters, which they currently enjoy for free.
By the way taxing the churches would bring in an additional 71 billion annually and essentially pay down this country's debts in no time at all. Just think about that for awhile.
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