Wiccans won't get tax break (tradition, churches, dogma, worship)

[Bright-ness' Shadow]

Complete article - registration required for the Miami Heerald
Posted on Fri, Mar. 11, 2005


TALLAHASSEE

Court: Wiccans won't get tax break

An appeals court denied a sales tax exemption to the Wiccan Religious Cooperative of Florida, a religious group. The lack of a permanent site led to the ruling.


TALLAHASSEE - (AP) -- The Wiccans can't have a sales tax exemption in Florida because, unlike other religious groups, they don't have a permanent meeting place, an appeals court has ruled.

The Wiccan Religious Cooperative of Florida sued the Florida Department of Revenue on Halloween 2000, arguing that it was wrongly denied a tax exemption.

SALES TAX

The Orlando-based Wiccan group wanted an exemption to sell religious items and publications without having to charge sales tax, like other churches. It was originally denied by the Department of Revenue because it didn't have a physical place of worship, one of the qualifications for the exemption.

A three-judge panel of the First District Court of Appeal upheld a ruling this week in favor of the state.

In a twist, the appeals panel ruled the Wiccans can't legally pursue the case because it is a religious group, the panel ruled, and would benefit from a tax exemption.

The ruling raises questions for other religious groups, said Judge Robert T. Benton II, who dissented in part.

''Does this mean a synagogue cannot question the legality of using public money for a creche in the courthouse if a Star of David is installed?'' he wrote. The majority opinion ``discriminates against organizations because they are religious. This is not in keeping with our traditions.''

[Jaymes]

Boo hiss.

What do they define as a "permanent site"? If they worshipped in the same spot outside every time, would that be considered a permanent site?

[robtex]

Originally Posted by Jensa

Boo hiss.

What do they define as a "permanent site"? If they worshipped in the same spot outside every time, would that be considered a permanent site?

Jensa dig deep enough and you will find a Christian agenda here....."permanent site" is probably best definable as under the house of the one true Christian God.

[painted wolf]

personally I like how Wiccans 'are not' a religoius group when the state wants money from taxes,
but then turn around and say that 'yes' they are a religious group when they want to challange the rulling that just said that they wern't.

BIAS anyone?

wa:do

[No*s]

Yeesh...Wicca is a religion. Religions get tax breaks .

Sounds like somebody needs smacking down .

[Master Vigil]

When I was doing research on getting my temple set up, and hopefully get tax exempt status. That was one of the criteria. Another was the group needed to be actively religious for (i think) 20 years. Which is fine because I can have affiliation with the ULC. But I think that is very unfair for someone who wishes to start a church that has no affiliation.

I wonder if there would be a difference if the church was christian, but didn't have a permanent site?

[Green Gaia]

The state of Texas tried something similar on UUs, saying it wasn't a religion because we had no creed or dogma, and therefore shouldn't have tax breaks. Texan UUs fought back and won - I believe. I'll see if I can find that article....

[Green Gaia]

Here it is: http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/state/8692961.htm?1c

[Dr. Nosophoros]

I don't like taxes anymore than anyone else, but I feel that all religious organizations should pay tax just like every other business.