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Church bank accounts have been hit hard due to coronavirus shutdowns across the country. But they won’t have to worry for very much longer.
As part of the big bailout, the federal government is providing churches with money to pay utility bills and pastor salaries.
As part of the $350 million allocated to the Small Business Administration in the economic relief legislation that passed in March, churches will be eligible for small business loans.
Twitter is going wild….
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According to a statement made by the SBA, “Faith-based organizations are eligible to receive SBA loans regardless of whether they provide secular social services.”
If the government is paying pastors’ salaries as part of the SBA relief package, then by definition they are running a business. Which means they should NOT be tax-exempt.
“Business” should not include religion at all. They can’t have it both ways. If it’s a business, tax it!
— Crazy Man Talking #ResistTyranny (@Furrepanther) April 7, 2020
Source: Unsplash/History in HD
President Trump, Vice President Pence, and Treasury Secretary Mnuchin “made sure” churches would be eligible for the SBA program. This inclusion isn’t a surprise coming from this Administration. They changed the Federal Emergency Management Agency rules in 2018 to allow churches to receive disaster aid.
However, a key difference with the SBA loans is the funds are allowed to be used to pay salaries. In addition, a large portion of the loans—which can be up to $10 million—are forgivable.
Flickr / Kathy Drasky
Advocates for strict separation of church and state have been vocal with criticism. The Legal and Policy Vice President of American Atheists Alison Gill calls it a “drastic attack.”
“The government cannot directly fund inherently religious activities. It can’t spend government tax dollars on prayer, on promoting religion [or] proselytization. That directly contradicts the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.”
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Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.
Well, there goes the Constitution's prohibition on the separation of church and state: Trump funnels money to churches to pay bills and pastors' salaries.#Trumpdemic #COVID19 https://t.co/VQUPgcKxNy
— (((Isabella Mac Bardoel))) 🇳🇱🇨🇦🏴 (@IsabellaBardoel) April 8, 2020
Source: Canva
Everyone needs a helping hand no and again…even multi-millionaires.
The government will help pay the salaries of pastors. It’s about time the government helps out good people like Joel Osteen.
— Lee Mays (@OriginalLeeMays) April 7, 2020
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Some are finding it hard to stomach churches getting a government handout when they never pay their fair share.
The US government paying the salaries of pastors is a breach of the separation of church and state. I don’t care what denomination or religion, if churches are getting a bailout, then they should be made to pay taxes and abide by all the same rules as any business in the US.
— chuka nwanazia (@beejonson) April 7, 2020
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Wall Street, airlines, and now churches…
Sadly…..it appears to be true. Amazing how everyone that is against #socialism has their hands out when it comes to giving them #FreeMoney from the #FederalGovernment ! #Farmers #Pastors #WallStreet #Banks #Etc. https://t.co/YEH9PxRjnH
— Blue Wave 2020 (@OHIndependent) April 7, 2020
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Separation of church and state. Say it louder for those in the back.
Really…the founding fathers are rollin over..
Forget church-state separation: U.S. government to pay pastors' salaries with relief fundinghttps://t.co/9Rb1T4BC2zForget church-state separation: U.S. government to pay pastors' salaries with relief funding pic.twitter.com/QKaN8qfHNG
— Victoria Trotter (@swimbaby5) April 8, 2020
