Bunny Trails

[temporal1]

i believe “i see” the Briar Patch coming along in the near future.

[JayP]

Some might find this interesting and/or humorous.

I once asked a noted Catholic Priest who was a theologian, "Is it ever acceptable to cheat on your taxes?"

We particularly were looking at historical situations where say a farmer might take a couple of his cows out to a remote hidden pasture to hide them when the tax collector came by.

His answer was interesting. Cheating on your taxes would only be possibly acceptable to the extent it was usual and customary!

It's not as absurd a you might think. I suspect 90% of you live in a legal district (county, town) where they TECHNICALLY require a dog license (or other such licenses). But only people that go in, pay their $10 and get a dog license are paying their tax on their dog. Now, we can certainly argue if a tax if 'just' if they don't come and ask you for it, but then, even US IRS compliance is technically voluntary.

Frankly, I would think folks paying into a church collection, that in turn supports the school, is a case of technically not tax deductible (you received goods), but I suspect fine to do so from a 'reality' standpoint.

[Ken]

Some might find this interesting and/or humorous.

I once asked a noted Catholic Priest who was a theologian, "Is it ever acceptable to cheat on your taxes?"

We particularly were looking at historical situations where say a farmer might take a couple of his cows out to a remote hidden pasture to hide them when the tax collector came by.

His answer was interesting. Cheating on your taxes would only be possibly acceptable to the extent it was usual and customary!

It's not as absurd a you might think. I suspect 90% of you live in a legal district (county, town) where they TECHNICALLY require a dog license (or other such licenses). But only people that go in, pay their $10 and get a dog license are paying their tax on their dog. Now, we can certainly argue if a tax if 'just' if they don't come and ask you for it, but then, even US IRS compliance is technically voluntary.

Frankly, I would think folks paying into a church collection, that in turn supports the school, is a case of technically not tax deductible (you received goods), but I suspect fine to do so from a 'reality' standpoint.

That is an absolutely absurd answer, especially from a Catholic priest. Normally Catholic priests are not such moral relativists.

Would said priest feel that divorce and remarriage is acceptable if it is "usual and customary" in society? What about abortion? Is abortion acceptable if it becomes "usual and customary?"

The Bible (Mark 12:17) is more explicit about cheating on your taxes that it is about abortion.

[Josh]

The Catholic Church exists in the entire world, including places with very corrupt governments where taxation is more accurately described as bribery. It should be obvious they have to come up with moral frameworks that work places besides a well functioning U.S. suburb.

[JayP]

Oh Ken. At first I thought to just laugh at you, then remembered bigots can have guns and be dangerous.
Tell me, when you watched Elmer Gantry, did you think he was the hero of the movie?

[Ken]

Oh Ken. At first I thought to just laugh at you, then remembered bigots can have guns and be dangerous.
Tell me, when you watched Elmer Gantry, did you think he was the hero of the movie?

Go ahead and explain all the circumstances under Catholic doctrine that it is OK to do wrong as long as that wrongdoing is "usual and customary" in wider society.

I'm curious to hear what that are.

[Ken]

The Catholic Church exists in the entire world, including places with very corrupt governments where taxation is more accurately described as bribery. It should be obvious they have to come up with moral frameworks that work places besides a well functioning U.S. suburb.

The world you describe is absolutely no different from the world at the time of Christ when governments levied taxes for personal gain. And Jesus said "give unto Caesar". In fact, Roman Senators lobbied for governorships in the provinces because that was how they made their vast fortunes. Christ didn't say "give unto Caesar only if in your judgment the money will be used for good public purposes with the highest accounting standards. And Paul said in Roman's 13: "Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God."

It seems you are willing to cite Romans 13 when justifying police violence on the other threads but not when it comes to taxation (or selling tainted milk).

[ken_sylvania]

Oh Ken. At first I thought to just laugh at you, then remembered bigots can have guns and be dangerous.
Tell me, when you watched Elmer Gantry, did you think he was the hero of the movie?

Go ahead and explain all the circumstances under Catholic doctrine that it is OK to do wrong as long as that wrongdoing is "usual and customary" in wider society.

I'm curious to hear what that are.

The priest didn't say it was ok to do wrong. He was discussing whether or not a particular action was wrong, not whether or not it was ok to do wrong.

[Ken]

Oh Ken. At first I thought to just laugh at you, then remembered bigots can have guns and be dangerous.
Tell me, when you watched Elmer Gantry, did you think he was the hero of the movie?

Go ahead and explain all the circumstances under Catholic doctrine that it is OK to do wrong as long as that wrongdoing is "usual and customary" in wider society.

I'm curious to hear what that are.

The priest didn't say it was ok to do wrong. He was discussing whether or not a particular action was wrong, not whether or not it was ok to do wrong.

I think that is a distinction without a difference. The law says pay your taxes and the Bible says pay your taxes. The particular action in question choosing to not pay your taxes.

[Josh]

Oh Ken. At first I thought to just laugh at you, then remembered bigots can have guns and be dangerous.
Tell me, when you watched Elmer Gantry, did you think he was the hero of the movie?

Go ahead and explain all the circumstances under Catholic doctrine that it is OK to do wrong as long as that wrongdoing is "usual and customary" in wider society.

I'm curious to hear what that are.

Driving 56 MPH in a 55 zone would be an obvious example.