Posted on Tue, May. 18, 2004
Unitarian group denied tax status
By R.A. Dyer
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
AUSTIN - Unitarian Universalists have for decades presided over births, marriages and memorials. The church operates in every state, with more than 5,000 members in Texas alone.
But according to the office of Texas Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn, a Denison Unitarian church isn't really a religious organization -- at least for tax purposes. Its reasoning: the organization "does not have one system of belief."
Never before -- not in this state or any other -- has a government agency denied Unitarians tax-exempt status because of the group's religious philosophy, church officials say. Strayhorn's ruling clearly infringes upon religious liberties, said Dan Althoff, board president for the Denison congregation that was rejected for tax exemption by the comptroller's office.
"I was surprised -- surprised and shocked -- because the Unitarian church in the United States has a very long history," said Althoff, who notes that father-and-son presidents John Adams and John Quincy Adams were both Unitarians.
To read the full article, click
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From Dallas-Fort Worth's <a href="http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/state/8692961.htm?1c"><b>Star-Telegram</b>.com</a>:
<i>Posted on Tue, May. 18, 2004
Unitarian group denied tax status
By R.A. Dyer
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
AUSTIN - Unitarian Universalists have for decades presided over births, marriages and memorials. The church operates in every state, with more than 5,000 members in Texas alone.
But according to the office of Texas Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn, a Denison Unitarian church isn't really a religious organization -- at least for tax purposes. Its reasoning: the organization "does not have one system of belief."
Never before -- not in this state or any other -- has a government agency denied Unitarians tax-exempt status because of the group's religious philosophy, church officials say. Strayhorn's ruling clearly infringes upon religious liberties, said Dan Althoff, board president for the Denison congregation that was rejected for tax exemption by the comptroller's office.
"I was surprised -- surprised and shocked -- because the Unitarian church in the United States has a very long history," said Althoff, who notes that father-and-son presidents John Adams and John Quincy Adams were both Unitarians.</i>
To read the full article, click <a href="http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/state/8692961.htm?1c"<b>here</b></a>
To read about Unitarian-Univeralism, click <a href="http://www.uua.org/"><b>here</b></a>.
<i>Posted on Tue, May. 18, 2004
Unitarian group denied tax status
By R.A. Dyer
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
AUSTIN - Unitarian Universalists have for decades presided over births, marriages and memorials. The church operates in every state, with more than 5,000 members in Texas alone.
But according to the office of Texas Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn, a Denison Unitarian church isn't really a religious organization -- at least for tax purposes. Its reasoning: the organization "does not have one system of belief."
Never before -- not in this state or any other -- has a government agency denied Unitarians tax-exempt status because of the group's religious philosophy, church officials say. Strayhorn's ruling clearly infringes upon religious liberties, said Dan Althoff, board president for the Denison congregation that was rejected for tax exemption by the comptroller's office.
"I was surprised -- surprised and shocked -- because the Unitarian church in the United States has a very long history," said Althoff, who notes that father-and-son presidents John Adams and John Quincy Adams were both Unitarians.</i>
To read the full article, click <a href="http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/state/8692961.htm?1c"<b>here</b></a>
To read about Unitarian-Univeralism, click <a href="http://www.uua.org/"><b>here</b></a>.
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Comments
The Quakers (esp. the liberal branch) would be another system that would be in trouble too, using that logic. I'm sure there are others.
I have a son, six years older than yours, who's with me a shade under half the time. It's . . . something.