Tulsa-Smith:- emotional...: It's an absolute open chequebook across a lot of countries

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

It's an absolute open chequebook across a lot of countries

That was the voice of most EU based complainants. They are complaining about the generous tax breaks that the Vatican City gets on its huge assets.

At about US$3 billion, most EU parliamentarians are asking why The Catholic Church does not pay tax on its properties and businesses, like everyone else. The focus, of course, started with the concessions given to the Vatican by Italy, within which the Holy See is located.

On its part, the Vatican states that any profits The Catholic Church makes goes to the needy of the world. And, it pointed out that these concessions have been in existence since 1929, which predates the European Union itself.

However, in the spirit of Christianity - give unto Caesar, what is Caesar's - The Catholic Church has agreed to 'co-operate' with the EU. Sounds a bit like paying protection money to a bully, doesn't it?

The details of the complaints:

[....The Vatican has agreed to co-operate fully with the EU, but many analysts say that the Holy See, or central government of the Catholic church, senses an underlying prejudice against the church.

Ed Pentin, Rome correspondent for the Catholic Herald, said the EU has a history of being anti-Catholic and anti-church.

"Particularly within the European parliament, for example, there is a certain anti-Catholic bias," he said.

The Vatican says, like other charitable institutions, the profit it generates is used to help the poorest and weakest in society.

Now, it will be up to the EU and the Italian government to decide whether an early twentieth century agreement granting tax breaks to the Vatican can be upheld.]

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