Responses to Pope's call for an end to tax evasion
The news that the Pope is working on a doctrinal pronouncement that will condemn tax evasion as 'socially unjust' is interesting and may (or more likely may not) trigger a change in the evasion debate. More interesting perhaps are the comments that have circulated in the blogosphere since the story first popped up in The Times.
The debate around tax evasion has been particularly lively in Italy in recent months with world motor racing champion Valentino Rossi, under investigation and the church's fiscal relationship with the state coming under scrutiny too.
Comments in recent days have been coloured by respondents' view on religion, the Catholic church and on whether taxation itself is desirable but a handful were more insightful.
'The pope is right to denounce tax evasion,' one reader writes on The Times site. 'Wealth is fine as long as it is made honestly.'
Richard Murphy on his blog offers: ' I do not think that because the Pope says something it has to be right. But few can deny the power or importance of the tradition of Catholic social teaching, especially on issues such as this (where the Catholic Church is ahead of all others). This news is, therefore, very welcome and is indicative the changing environment worldwide on this issue.'
My favourite is from BurmaShave on The LibertyPost. Commenting on the Pope's apparent call to 'the West to promote an equitable world economic system based on social justice rather than profi', BurmaShave says: 'I hope my offering in the basket last Sunday goes towards purchasing a book on microeconomics for the Pope.'
Though it's a clear departure by the age old belief that of the separation of the church and the state, it is rather true that tax evasion or any evasion against social responsibility is socially unjust.
Jerusalem Export House.com is a great resource for religious hand crafted wood ornaments and decorative religious items. Visit them at: http://www.jerusalemexport.com for more details.
Posted by jerusalemexporthouse | August 15, 2007 8:33 AM
And what if the state was using tax payers' money to build gas chambers ????
Posted by Alan Wright | September 12, 2007 9:31 AM