Okogie Backs Lagos On Taxing Of Churches


By ANDY EGBON

THE Catholic Archbishop of Lagos Anthony Cardinal Okogie said yesterday in Lagos he endorsed the decision of the Lagos State Government to tax Christian and Muslim clerics.


I will not say it is completely wrong. If you earn a salary, you must pay your tax and that is what he (the governor) is doing,’’ Okogie said during a pastoral visit to Ijanikin, near Lagos.


“The government believes that there are some clergymen who are earning salaries and if you look at it properly, there are so many people who are calling themselves clerics today.


“If you earn a salary you should pay your tax. But if you don’t want the state to be developed, it is too bad. Why then are you in the state?’’ Okogie asked.


“The Corporate Affairs Commission is the one licensing them and when you put on your white collar, they think you are a clergyman while you are a journalist,’’ Okogie said.


The Cardinal criticised mushrooming of churches across the country, saying they should operate within the confines of the law.


“All those people renting houses and turning it to church the next day, what do you call it - Church? “It is no church; it is like a school. Just as a school has its definition, that is how a church has its definition.


“But everybody feels that they can hide under the umbrella of the church, get CAC licence and they do whatever they like,” he remarked.


Reports has it that a week ago, the Lagos State Government sent out letters to some churches and mosques on the decision to tax their earnings and those on their payroll. http://www.nigerianobservernews.com/23052009/weekendobserver/news/2.html

is the govt calling for taxing of employees or the religious institutions itself?

Good. He had no choice anyway.

supported,that will reduced everyday springing of churches.

We are truely in the end times. Just like they did to Jesus, they do to His church today.

It looks harmless abi?

Oh my god! Why are christians some of your kids so blind?

The Jews in Jesus and the apostles days consulted with the goverment, inviting them to persecute the church.

Look at what someone who is sopposed to be a church leader is saying.

Is that the solution? tax? Does he think it is all men of God that earn salaries like he does?

Yesterday it was miracle programing, today it is church tax, tommorow who knows? They could place a bann on speaking in

tongues.

Who knew that a day will come in America when praying in schools will become an offence?

Let the watchmen pray. Let those who are Spirit-filled and who know the times PRAY.

Let them mourn upon their beds until change comes for the time is near.

Evil will prevail when good men do nothing.

Churches are not meant to be taxed.
Let leave religion out of this for a moment.
Do charities organisations get taxed?
How will they even begin to tax them?
Aren’t tax done on profit alone?
It is one thing to tell a pastor to pay his tax but how can a church pay tax?
Sometimes common sense is not common indeed.

donnie:

We are truely in the end times. Just like they did to Jesus, they do to His church today.

It looks harmless abi?

Oh my god! Why are christians some of your kids so blind?

The Jews in Jesus and the apostles days consulted with the goverment, inviting them to persecute the church.

Look at what someone who is sopposed to be a church leader is saying.

Is that the solution? tax? Does he think it is all men of God that earn salaries like he does?

Yesterday it was miracle programing, today it is church tax, tommorow who knows? They could place a bann on speaking in

tongues.

Who knew that a day will come in America when praying in schools will become an offence?

Let the watchmen pray. Let those who are Spirit-filled and who know the times PRAY.

Let them mourn upon their beds until change comes for the time is near.

Evil will prevail when good men do nothing.

can you see the FEAR that drives and makes religion thrive?

mazaje:

can you see the FEAR that drives and makes religion thrive?

what fear?

Taxing the church wud be wrong by any measures we choose to weigh with. However taxing paid Pastors is not wrong. Jesus paid tax, or call it tribute to the Govt. in his days, he set an example for us to follow.