Faith, Hope? and Charity?

[LazyGun]

Just finished reading an interesting article about charitable status, tax relief on donations, and the charity commission.

I have long felt that the rules surrounding what constitutes a charity are more than a little nebulous.

http://www.politics.c...avour-from-the-taxman

from the article
"Why is it reasonable for taxpayers, through gift aid, to subsidise attempts to convert them to beliefs which they might regard as immoral or obnoxious? What matters to society is the behaviours which are inspired by belief. Religion is capable of inspiring acts of charity, altruism and respect for other people, but it is equally capable of inspiring intolerance for other people, cruelty and violence."

Any thoughts or experience of the charitable sector from contributors here?

[mike11111]

What a stupid, stupid post! Read your own words and do a little research! The very nature of gift aid is that the individual taxpayer decides what is or is not a charity which he may wish to support. They in no way subsidise projects with which they disagree. Lazy Gun? Lazy brain, more like!

[Duncer]

Whoa, that's a little harsh. I think the question is getting at what actually is and isn't a charity, or what should and shouldn't be. As he says "the rules surrounding what constitutes a charity are more than a little nebulous" and I couldn't agree more.

[LazyGun]

@Mike - The article seems like a reasonable analysis to me.The articles under which organisations can apply for charitable status are far too nebulous, and religious organisations get an easy ride from the taxman. Why do you think Scientology fought so long and hard in the US to reclaim its charitable status, originally stripped from them by the IRS.

Your post seems like your usual ad hominem attack on anyone critical of religion, and says a lot more about your inability to contribute anything remotely resembling useful input than my inability to think...

[beso]

LazyGun makes an excellent point while mike demonstrates his ignorance yet again.

Every taxpayer subsidises organisation having a tax exempt status. The biggest charities are religions who often use their resources for evangelical expansion.

[Duncer]

I'm all for charitable giving, but rules need to be applied. The premise behind LG's post is eminently sensible to me.

[sandyRoe]

Eton has charitable status. I wonder how many of the pupils qualify for free school dinners if they still exist.

[boxtops]

I find it interesting that commercial organisations such as Eton College - with high fees - are a registered charity. That's not what I understood a "charity" to be about.

You can, or don't tick the Gift Aid box - it's up to you.

[boxtops]

LOL sandy, great minds, etc...

[Duncer]

I'd agree with pupils from deprived backgrounds getting charitable status to go to Eton as long as their results merited it.

[mike11111]

I have never hear of a pupil of Eton , present or past, who has to turn up on a Monday morning and tip up his dinner money( provided he hadn't spent it all on fags on the way to school) so, yes, technically, the boys of Eton are on free dinners (covered by the fees)

[naomi24]

How can the cost of dinners paid for by fees be considered free - technically or otherwise? What utter nonsense!

[Duncer]

(provided he hadn't spent it all on fags on the way to school)

Are you ex Eton Mike? Tell us more?

[jomifl]

Mike, you don't seem to understand how it works, If you give tax relief to a charity it means that other tax payers have to make up the loss to the exchequer without having any choice in the matter. So, if I paid tax in the UK I would be subsidising Eton School. Fortunately I don't.

[mike11111]

Oh dear, she's on the wander. Can some kind soul point her in the right direction towards R &S, preferably stopping off at the humour transplant clinic en route.

[naomi24]

Mike11111, this is R&S.

[Duncer]

Naomi, all the fags have clouded his vision. I still love you.

[mike11111]

Oh, Holy Sh!t! Mea culpa, mea maxima culpa and all that. I can only ascribe my solipsism to the fact that I never went to Eton.

[Duncer]

Aaaaaaaah, question answered.

[naomi24]

Ha ha! Thank you Duncer. :o)

LG, //I have long felt that the rules surrounding what constitutes a charity are more than a little nebulous.//

I agree. Having been heavily involved with two major charities, leading to involvement with many others - and insight into many others, it strikes me that for many it's simply a ploy to gain the benefit of special status whilst offering little benefit to the community at large.

[mike11111]

There is a joke about the three sisters, Faith, Hope and Charity. I can't tell it of course, for fear of upsetting the Calvinistic mindset of the faithful.