Stop CBCP politicking now!
Posted on 19. Jan, 2010 by Ryan Tani in Oplan Pepe
The CBCP is registered as a religious organization.
It is a misconception to think that any organization that participates in religious activities is automatically classified as a religious organization. A religious organization is actually a type of non-stock corporation. A religious group must apply for religious organization status with the SEC and BIR.
To register as a religious organization, an organization must participate exclusively in activities with the following nature:
- religious
- charitable
- educational
This condition must be met to qualify as a religious organization and receive tax-exempt status from the BIR.
Participating in partisan politics is a political activity — not a religious, charitable, or educational activity. If a religious organization participates in a political activity, it no longer meets the condition above, and is disqualified from being registered as a religious organization.
It also loses its conditionally-given tax-exempt status.
By actively campaigning against pro-RH candidates, the CBCP is participating in partisan politics, which is a political activity. This disqualifies them from their previous classification as a religious organization. This also disqualifies them from receiving tax-exempt status.
Therefore, the SEC should revoke CBCP’s status as a religious organization, and the BIR should remove the CBCP’s tax-exempt status.
If the CBCP ceases to be a religious organization and loses its tax-exempt status, it may campaign against pro-RH candidates all it wants. It may even run as a party-list candidate.
But they should not be allowed to participate in political activities and receive tax benefits at the same time.
Yet they have been doing so for a very long time, and they will continue to do so until somebody stops them. Ideally, our politicians should, but they are too busy and too scared. Meanwhile, the CBCP continues its political meddling while enjoying tax-exempt status.
When elections are over and our politicians finally have time — not to mention guts, for they can finally stop worrying about the Catholic vote — it will be too late. The CBCP will already have done its damage.
The CBCP may not be able to influence the voters, but they can certainly influence the politicians.
Traditional media helps, but it is not enough, because they, too, are afraid of the CBCP. Some are willing to take a stand, but they are in the minority. Yet with the power of new media, there is something you can do:
- Learn more about how the CBCP is violating our constitution.
- Spread the message through your social networks.
- Speak out against the CBCP’s political meddling.
Let’s not allow the CBCP to violate our constitution and make cowards of our politicians any longer. Keep the church out of politics and politics out of the church!
The Tax exempt status received by religious organization is because of the services to the community that it provides. Services that should government covers will be much more expensive in financial and human resources.
The quality of education, healthcare, human resources etc…give way to a greater efficiency with less strain from the government.
Note that most of the workers within religious organization are more than willing to work for free in contrast to when government will undertake the project.
In terms of politics, every citizen are free to voice out their opinion and to advocate for what they believe is good for them. It shouldnt matter whether they are a member of an organized religion or not. They are still citizens of the republic with the same freedom. Accusing the Church of such is actually an act of discrimination towards people because of their religious beliefs.
reynor u misunderstand the topic, the CBCP is a religious organization that does practically nothing, except serves as a HQ for bishops it fine yes the bishops do maybe some charity work but its not listed under the organization as such its status as a tax free entity should be removed, we’re not asking for removal of taxes from churches, only the CBCP