by Petraglyph 9 Replies latest watchtower scandals
An interesting perspective from Watchtower's nemesis:
Pope Francis Calls for Ending Tax-Exempt Status of Churches That Don’t Help the Needy
And:
Pope warns religious orders: Take in refugees, or pay property taxes
A few gulps in their throats at Bethel? ;)
Wow! You think the Watchtower hated the harlot before...?
Me thinks there will be an up tick in the vitriol rhetoric against the evil Catholic church in coming months. Joey Rutherford will be proud.
To be fair, the WTS isn't in the habit (that I'm aware of) of using its unused real estate for commercial profit (e.g., hotels, renting out to commercial companies).
Now whether the new $10.50 per publisher "donation" made for each Circuit Assembly day equates to some sort of commercial business enterprise is open for debate, but it's not like the WTS is engaged in some of the blatant commercial activities cited by Pope Francis.
issuing a blunt warning to any religious orders in Europe that spurn his recent call to open their doors to refugees because they want to make money off their properties instead...
A religious school is tax-exempt because it is religious, but if it is functioning as a hotel, then it should pay taxes just like its neighbor.
Renting space to help with operating expenses...
For example, in Rome, a pensione operated by an order of nuns just outside St. Peter’s Square offers a room, breakfast, and Mass at 7 a.m. each day for $90 a night. They also rent their rooftop to CBS
So, in context, he is just referring to religious groups that rent their properties out to paying guests..
How can you stretch that to apply to the Watchtower's properties?
Interesting comments from a Pope that no doubt sees this as another opportunity for good PR, but I see nothing directly relating to the Watchtower organisation in this story.
Bethellites take a vow of poverty, Bethel is not a hotel..?
The WTBTS will be charitable when they are forced to be, and not one moment sooner.
THE END.
( It is interesting that "charity" was specifically mentioned at the very first Regional Convention during a GB discourse. Rest assured, they have a "shelved idea" about charity. )
DD
