Comments about ‘Financially troubled parts of Europe consider taxing church properties’

So much for separation of church and state. Beware the unintended consequences.

@ GmaxD: There is no separation of Church and State in very many parts of Europe. That separation is actually a very American ideal.

The Catholic Church is very involved in Spanish government and Spain is generally considered a very religious country.

What actions are you referring to when you say "unintended consequences"?

I pay property taxes and I am neither "church" nor "state". How does the payment of property taxes violate the separation between church and state?

In my opinion, churches should pay property taxes. Why should atheists have to subsidize churches by paying higher property taxes so churches don't have to pay?

Churches are business the same as other business selling products, marketing their wares and using all methods of advertizing to influence potential buyers and lobby the government for favors and support. Churchs should be taxed the same as all other business. If there was anything holy or special about church business it would have diferentiated itself from worldly busilness and been recognized by now. But there is no difference, just a bunch of competition, infighting and contention for superiority of superstitions and false prophets.