catholic church gives a collective shrug at glorias threat to tax them should anti gloria activity continue coming from the church

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BY GERARD NAVAL

THE Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines yesterday shrugged
off possible revocation of the tax privileges of the Catholic Church
and all religious institutions that engage in politics as floated by
Speaker Prospero Nograles.

Msgr. Pedro Quitorio, CBCP spokesman, said many of the dioceses do not
avail of the tax exemption anyway, which he said has to be applied
for.

"In fact, lahat ng mga religious nata-tax indirectly. Like si
Archbishop Oscar Cruz of Lingayen-Pangasinan, nata-tax siya. Hinihingi
pa naman permit para ma-exempt, hindi automatic. Siya (Cruz) hindi nag-
ask and marami rin ibang diocese ang hindi nanghingi. Yung CBCP, hindi
din exempted," Quitorio said.

Fr. Joe Dizon of Solidarity Philippines said the only reason they have
the exemption is because it is provided by law.

"We don't find it (removing exemption) a problem. We preach good
citizenship and if the law provides that we have to pay taxes, then,
we have too. we are paying taxes. Basta anything provided by the law,
we will agree," Dizon said.

The Church, its lands, and the institutions under its auspices such as
schools and broadcast stations are tax-free.

Quitorio said in case Nograles really pushes for the taxing of
religious institutions, it should need a constitutional amendment.

"(Changes in) tax exemption? Mangangailangan tayo ng pag-babago sa
Saligang Batas," he said.

Dizon said he believes the idea is government retaliation to the
growing opposition to the Arroyo administration which some members of
the Catholic Church are spearheading.

"Huwag niya panakot sa amin iyan (taxation). As Jesus said, give to
Caesar what is due to Caesar and give to God what is due to God.
Taxation is due to Caesar pero at the same time, doon din dapat may
accountability yung nakaupo sa government na yung karapatan nila mag-
collect ng tax e dahil sa naglilingkod sila. Kung hindi sila
naglilingkod ng maayos, wala sila karapatan mangolekta ng tax at
karapatan ng mamamayan na hindi magbayad ng tax, which is civil
disobedience. And that can be legitimate in a given time," the priest
said.

Nograles on Wednesday said that in other countries like the United
States, the Church is "stripped of its tax privileges" once it enters
the political arena.

Nograles' statement was seen as a veiled threat to the Church
following the call of Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, CBCP president, for a
"new brand of people power" amid fresh calls for President Arroyo's
resignation.







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