bttt - For those that haven't read about this. Does anybody have more info on this?
Posts by cognac
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8Society owes 50mil in fines over in Europe?
by cognac inhere's the site: http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-2020252_itm.
notice this paragraph:.
the french tax administration has now launched a serious attack on the freedom of religious association and worship by enforcing a 60% tax on "hand donations" made by more than 200,000 jehovah's witnesses in the last four years.
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226
Recently disfellowshipped prominent Assembly overseer in Western Europe now speaking out against the Watchtower org.
by the research lady informer elder, and assembly overseer roberto from france will be joining barbara and joe anderson on tonight's conference call, july 18,2009. roberto was disfellowshipped in june 2009 and after many faithful years of service is now joining thousands of others who are speaking out against the evils of the watchtower organization.
our call tonight will be focused on how the country of france, as well as other european countries are investigating jehovah's witnesses.
the watchtower organization is experiencing difficulties in these countries for the inhumane treatment and exerting too much control over people's lives.
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cognac
Notice what this report said: http://www.lermanet.com/USDofState/france.htm
"In 1996 the Commission issued a report that defined
sects as groups that place inordinate importance on finances; cause a
rupture between adherents and their families; are responsible for
physical as well as psychological attacks on members; recruit children;
profess "anti-social" ideas; disturb public order; have "judiciary
problems;" and/or attempt to infiltrate organs of the State. Government
officials have stated that "sects" are "associations whose structure is
ideological and totalitarian and whose behavior seriously oppresses
fundamental liberties as well as social equilibrium." (These attributes
are in addition to specific criminal behavior prohibited by law.) The
Commission's report identified 173 groups as sects, including Jehovah's
Witnesses and the Church of Scientology."So, that's probably why Roberto said, " And work on making it as destructive as possible for the Organization!" - Because they are a very distructive sect. You have every right to your opinion Reniaa, and so do I. Let's agree to disagree on this.
For everybody reading, let's respect her opinion and just let it be and let the reader make there own choice. Let's not turn this into yet another Reniaa thread...
Moving along...
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226
Recently disfellowshipped prominent Assembly overseer in Western Europe now speaking out against the Watchtower org.
by the research lady informer elder, and assembly overseer roberto from france will be joining barbara and joe anderson on tonight's conference call, july 18,2009. roberto was disfellowshipped in june 2009 and after many faithful years of service is now joining thousands of others who are speaking out against the evils of the watchtower organization.
our call tonight will be focused on how the country of france, as well as other european countries are investigating jehovah's witnesses.
the watchtower organization is experiencing difficulties in these countries for the inhumane treatment and exerting too much control over people's lives.
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cognac
Ok, I think this is why in some places it says 28mil and other places 50mil. Because it started out at 28mil but because of penalties and interest, it is now at 50mil. It seems like the longer they don't pay it, the more they are going to owe. See http://www.watchtowernews.org/france.htm\
Jehovah's Witnesses in France
France has ruled that the Jehovah's Witnesses faith is not a religion and thus it owes $50 million in back taxes. The French Tax Authority ruled the Witnesses ineligible for a church exemption and gave the group a 60% tax rate, which amounts to $25 million, which was doubled by penalties and interest. A lien was put on all Jehovah's Witnesses property in France. ...The group has been criticized in recent years by anti-sect organizations. It has 220,000 members in France and has done mission work since 1900. ..."Their intent seems to be to break us financially and stop our work in France," said Judah Schroeder of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, based in New York. The tax decision was made in May after an audit of donations. Religious freedom advocates from the Witnesses and other groups in 15 European nations planned to meet in Paris to appeal the action and warn against a trend they say threatens minority religions. ...The Jehovah's Witnesses claims 15 million members, mostly outside North America and Europe. Members believe in the imminent return of Christ and are active proselytizers. They withhold allegiance from all earthly authorities, and become conscientious objectors from military service. Many went to Nazi death camps in Germany for not joining Hitler's army. Others were deported from Nazi-occupied France.
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226
Recently disfellowshipped prominent Assembly overseer in Western Europe now speaking out against the Watchtower org.
by the research lady informer elder, and assembly overseer roberto from france will be joining barbara and joe anderson on tonight's conference call, july 18,2009. roberto was disfellowshipped in june 2009 and after many faithful years of service is now joining thousands of others who are speaking out against the evils of the watchtower organization.
our call tonight will be focused on how the country of france, as well as other european countries are investigating jehovah's witnesses.
the watchtower organization is experiencing difficulties in these countries for the inhumane treatment and exerting too much control over people's lives.
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cognac
Here is what the org has to say regarding the tax (and they say it's 28mil.): http://www.jw-media.org/region/europe/france/english/religious_freedom/fra_e041004-report.htm
Jehovah's Witnesses and the Taxation of Donations In France
October 4, 2004
Introduction
On October 5, 2004, the Court of Cassation, which is the highest court in France, will make public a decision in the case of Association Les Témoins de Jéhovah v. Direction des Services Fiscaux. At issue is the right of this registered association to receive and to record contributions from members and from spontaneous supporters, without those contributions subsequently being taxed.
Although the tax authorities expressly recognize the honest and non-profit nature of the Association Les Témoins de Jéhovah (ATJ) and could find no irregularities, they applied a tax law that is assessed at 60 percent of the value of the contributions. The amount involved in the controversy could exceed $28 million (U.S.). This includes a 60% tax on contributions used to support a vast humanitarian relief effort to Rwanda in 1994.
As shown in this report, this taxation measure raises numerous objections relating to fundamental freedoms. It does not take into account the traditional practice of not taxing contributions made to not-for-profit associations.
The Facts
The Constitution of France provides for freedom of religion, and the government respects this right in practice. Strict antidiscrimination laws prohibit racially or religiously motivated attacks.
The government of France declares a commitment to secularism and does not keep statistics on religious affiliation.
In France, religious activities can be legally organized by creating associations provided for in a law dated July 1, 1901 (a general law regulating all associations whatever their purpose), or the law of December 9, 1905 (specifically designed for associations and buildings devoted exclusively to the practice of a religion).
The main religions in France (Catholicism, Islam, Protestantism and Judaism) use associations regulated according to the 1901 law or the 1905 law in order to organize their activities. Under certain conditions, religious associations are granted certain tax advantages, such as exemption from property tax on buildings used for worship and from tax on bequests. Until now, none of the associations used by the main religions in France have been subjected to a tax on contributions.
Some 250,000 persons attend the services of Jehovah's Witnesses. They meet in 1,000 places of worship, which have been granted tax-free status by the authorities in France. However, the religious contributions made to the national association Association Les Témoins de Jéhovah are being taxed. This situation is without parallel in France.
The Background
This taxation issue first arose after the 1996 Parliamentary Commission on Sects included Jehovah's Witnesses on their list of 173 cults. Although this parliamentary report does not have any legal value, cult-watch groups have extensively misused it in their fight against what they label "dangerous cults."
The Commission made a general recommendation for tax authorities to harass minority religions that were on the list by means of tax audits. A tax audit was subsequently initiated against the Association Les Témoins de Jéhovah (ATJ).
Although the tax authorities expressly recognized the honest and non-profit nature of ATJ and could find no irregularities, they applied a tax law Article 757-2 from the France Tax Code, against ATJ and claimed back taxes for four years (1993-1996) on donations received by the association.
In order to calculate the amount, the tax authorities created a nominative list indicating the religious affiliation of all those who had made donations. Such a list is in contravention of privacy regulations and raises questions in connection with fundamental civil liberties.
The tax was assessed at 60 percent of the value of the donation. This is the first time that a religion in France has had its religious offerings taxed, thus depriving it of the means of carrying out its worship. Consequently, for the first time in their 100-year history in France, Jehovah's Witnesses have been subjected to a tax on individual contributions.
Jehovah's Witnesses took the matter to court. The Court of Nanterre dismissed the action on July 4, 2000, and affirmed the tax assessment on Jehovah's Witnesses. The Court of Appeal at Versailles upheld the lower court's decision on February 28, 2002, requiring Jehovah's Witnesses to pay. On May 13, 2003, Jehovah's Witnesses were officially "notified" of the court decision, and on June 23, 2003, Jehovah's Witnesses introduced their case before the Court of Cassation. On July 7, 2004, the Court of Cassation heard oral arguments by both parties.
Precedent
"The ruling by the Nanterre Court is highly questionable."
—Bulletin des Associations et des Fondations, Éditions Francis Lefebvre, March 2002.Since 1996, several administrative courts in France have judged that the parliamentary report on sects had no legal basis or value. Nevertheless, the tax authorities have used the 1996 parliamentary report to justify investigating and taxing voluntary contributions made by Jehovah's Witnesses.
Charitable and other nonprofit associations are deeply concerned by these rulings, which have been severely criticized in more than 34 articles published in reputed legal and fiscal journals in France. Commentaries by legal experts have consistently challenged the position taken by the courts.
Jehovah's Witnesses and Taxes
Jehovah's Witnesses are an internationally recognized Christian religion. They base their beliefs on the Bible. When Jesus Christ was questioned about paying taxes, he told his listeners: "Pay back Caesar's things to Caesar, but God's things to God." (Mark 12:17) In their publications, public meetings and home Bible instruction, Jehovah's Witnesses encourage all to be prompt and honest in paying any taxes owed to a duly constituted authority. (Matthew 22:17–21; Romans 13:7) Over the last hundred years, Jehovah's Witnesses have earned a reputation worldwide for being honest in reporting their income and punctual in paying whatever taxes are legally imposed by the governments.
In teaching their neighbors about the Bible, Jehovah's Witnesses encourage them to adopt this Scriptural viewpoint on paying taxes and being honest and good citizens.
As a whole, Jehovah's Witnesses enjoy a good reputation worldwide as being honest, taxpaying citizens. For instance, the Spanish newspaper ElDiarioVasco commented on widespread tax evasion in Spain, but noted: "The only exception [is] Jehovah's Witnesses. When they buy or sell, the [property] value they declare is the absolute truth." Similarly, the U.S. newspaper San Francisco Examiner remarked some years ago: "You might regard [Jehovah's Witnesses] as model citizens. They pay taxes diligently, tend the sick, battle illiteracy."
Conclusion
Since the principles of fairness and nondiscrimination are basic human rights, in the matter of taxes Jehovah's Witnesses seek only to be treated like any other internationally known Christian religion.
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226
Recently disfellowshipped prominent Assembly overseer in Western Europe now speaking out against the Watchtower org.
by the research lady informer elder, and assembly overseer roberto from france will be joining barbara and joe anderson on tonight's conference call, july 18,2009. roberto was disfellowshipped in june 2009 and after many faithful years of service is now joining thousands of others who are speaking out against the evils of the watchtower organization.
our call tonight will be focused on how the country of france, as well as other european countries are investigating jehovah's witnesses.
the watchtower organization is experiencing difficulties in these countries for the inhumane treatment and exerting too much control over people's lives.
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cognac
Hello Roberto! Do you know when the JWs will have to go to court regarding the 50mil in fines? Is this something that will be settled shortly or in a few years?
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Everybody say hi to my husband...
by cognac inbecause we have a stinken spy on our hands!
oh, and he wants to let everyone know that he is unbreakable in the truth.
as a matter of fact, hes going out in service both saturday and sunday.
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cognac
Thanks Big Tex...
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Anyone listening to the confrence call?
by foolsparadise inthis guy got completely railroaded.
another person earns his freedom!
!.
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cognac
Kudra - I think they are putting it up in a few days or so. I don't think its up yet...
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cognac
Do you have something to bring with you? Something you can go on the internet with? Some phones let you have internet access. I once brought my computer to the meeting and sat in the library on JWD, lol. Nobody bothered me...
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Anyone listening to the confrence call?
by foolsparadise inthis guy got completely railroaded.
another person earns his freedom!
!.
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cognac
Please people, let's try not to let this thread be about one person.
Let's move this thread along. Does anybody know when they have to go to court next? I mean, is this thing gonna take years or what??? A 60% tax does seem very high. Is that because they view JWs as a cult and not a religion?
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Why did Michael Jackson change his appearance?
by african GB Member inwas there a logical(medical or otherwise) reason for him to change the way he looked?.
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cognac
society saying way back when that all blacks with turn white in paradise.
They said that??? Do you have a link?