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It certainly appears your position is - churches don't "pay-in" to the "system" by way of being tax exempt. Because they don't "pay-in," then they should not be a "recipient" of government funds.
Well, public schools do not "pay-in" either. They contribute nothing to the revenue stream. So, why should they be a "recipient" of this public program when they do not contribute to the revenue stream?
Public schools don't pay into the system, because they
are the system--an intrinsic component, a direct recipient of tax funding, by design. They're not
other, as are religious institutions that explicitly set themselves apart from the state.
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The funding for this MO program comes from tax payers all over the state. Childless individuals and couples pay a large portion of those taxes. Having no children, they receive no direct benefit from the public schools. But, they do enjoy the identified benefits of the program, which are: (1) removal of waste, i.e., the tires and (2) safety to children, i.e., all children, including those on Medicaid benefits that, if injured, would consume tax dollars. It does not matter whether those two objectives are applied to a public school or Trinity Lutheran. Those two goals/benefits are still met.
I understand that, and I don't strenuously object to the ruling. I referenced the building code scenario because this ruling seems to tread on the slippery slope, and leaves open the question of where the line should be drawn with respect to directing tax dollars to religious organizations. Windy seems to think it would be a "no brainer," that a church should be able to receive tax dollars to make structural upgrades to their sanctuary if it provides for, or improves "public safety" even though it's a private, tax-exempt, religious institution. I suspect the court might disagree with him, there, but now, who really knows.
I mean, isn't building or fortifying a place of worship what most reasonable people would agree
is not the business of the state?
The devil made me do it the first time, second time I done it on my own - W