Series raises a larger question

Selling faith

Regarding “Some Texas religious leaders live in lavish, tax-free estates thanks to obscure law,” (Dec. 9): The excellent Unfair Burden series brings up a larger question — why do religious organizations receive any tax deductions at all? Giving a tax break to any religious organization favors religion over atheism, agnosticism or those in general who are not religiously inclined. Why should those who do not believe or care about a deity subsidize those who do? If the argument is religious organizations provide a public benefit, then the deductions should be limited to their charity work — not the day-to-day expenses. Religion has a product to sell called faith, customers who attend services, marketing via proselytizing, revenues from collections and tithes, and expenses. How is that different from Home Depot? I used to be Hindu but am now atheist. Vishnu Brahmandam, Spring Cheers to the Houston Chronicle and the investigative reporters who did the digging to reveal tax-free parsonages that violate qualifications in state law. The Texas Constitution says a tax-free parsonage cannot be more than 1 acre. It is now up to the county tax collectors to send tax bills to the dozens of parsonages that are in violation. I wonder why any parsonage regardless of acreage should be tax-free property? All church property should at least pay the taxes needed to provide police and fire protection. Jimmy Dunne, Houston

A dreadful habit we have in this country is to add all sorts of exceptions and exemptions every time we pass a law. When it was decreed that property owners should pay a real estate tax, then all owners should pay the tax, including state and federal government buildings, nonprofits, religious and educational institutions — everyone who gets to their property via a public street, is plugged into public water and sewer systems, and gets fire and police protection. It should be no more complicated than that. Tony Serba, Houston

It is appalling and sad to read how, one after another, all over Texas and infecting almost every religion, congregants and their leaders are corrupting the very meaning of their beliefs. Christian scripture, for example, models repeatedly in lives and words: self-sacrifice, warnings about acquisition of possessions and preference for the poor. Yet the huge acquisition of “worldly” wealth described in this series in itself represents clear contradiction with foundational spirituality. Add to that the injustice of withholding tax funds needed for the state to provide services that the churches say should be a responsibility for all good followers: education, health care, safety and sanitation. Let us hope the Legislature will read this series and end at least the tax abuses. Mary E. Schultz, Houston

Dangerous duplicity

Regarding “Editorial: Jan. 6 text messages reveal dangerous duplicity of Fox News anchors,” (Dec. 15): You say the “influential trio of Fox News anchors and the propaganda they spew from the television sets … will never be confused for actual journalists.” Is this a choice of words you reserve for Fox? I doubt you would use them to describe what “spews” nightly from CNN. To be clear, none of these folks, Fox or CNN, are journalists. They are commentators. If you want journalism (which I often do) go to BBC (which I often do). Alan Nicholson, Houston I listened to Laura Ingraham’s show last night in which she replayed many of her comments the night of the so-called “insurrection.” She was completely against the Capitol riots, as she “is against all riots.” In no way was she being two-faced in her comments, as you say in your editorial. You describe the disconnect between her (and others on Fox) true feelings and the propaganda they spew. I challenge you to get on the Fox News website, listen to Ingraham’s actual comments from Jan. 6, and then make a heartfelt retraction of the “propaganda” that you are spewing. Rich Akin, Houston

Honor and compromise

Regarding “Dole: 'Genuine hero' paid war's price, triumphed in Senate,” (Dec. 9): I was struck by the praise uttered by members of both parties, and others, hailing Bob Dole as a patriot. Where have these leaders gone? What happened to the civility and the cooperativeness and compromise that used to exist in Congress as well as with our state and local elected officials? Isn’t that what most Americans really want today? We want those whom we elect to work together to get things done. We want them to have integrity. Compromise is not a dirty word. Gary Blumberg, Houston

BIBLE VERSE

I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 11:19