Church and State
One of the common prayers of the Orthodox is as follows:
"...remember Your Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, which You have purchased with Your precious blood. Confirm and strengthen it, enlarge and multiply it, keep it in peace, and preserve it unconquerable by the gates of hell forever...have mercy upon all world rulers, on our president, and on all civil authorities. Speak peace and blessing in their hearts for Your Holy Church and for all your people, in order that we may live a calm and peaceful life, in all godliness and dignity."It seems these prayers have been answered, yet again.
The problem was that the 9th circuit court of appeals is considering to basically abolish the housing tax exemption for clergy. If the court were to do so clergy would no longer be able to deduct the market value of their home. One could imagine what this would do to small churches all across this country where the priest is barely making ends meet as it is.
The appearent answer to prayer is the House of Representatives' unanimous decision to uphold housing tax breaks for clergy.
The bill must still pass the Senate, but I would assume this bill would have no problem passing-- (for many reasons, few being religious, politicians do not want to upset constituents of faith.)
If you'd like to read the whole story, go here.
For the sake of those clergy who rightly use the tax exemption, may God preserve them; for those that do not, may they be rooted out with justice.
Posted by at May 11, 2002 12:35 PMI really liked Fr. Timothy's comment on this whole thing. He said, (I'm grossly paraphrasing) "The early church was drug out by its feet and burned at the stake. Today we cry bloody-murder because Caesar doesn't give us a free ride."
Something to think about.
Posted by: jeremy at May 11, 2002 12:40 PM