AUSTRALIA
Courier-Mail
Former mayor calls for all churches to pay taxes, and donate it to victims of child abuse
DES HOUGHTON THE COURIER-MAIL JUNE 15, 2014
FORMER Brisbane Lord Mayor Jim Soorley yesterday called for all churches in Australia to pay rates and taxes with some money going to the victims of child abuse by the clergy.
Mr Soorley, a former Catholic priest, sparked uproar by accusing some churches of profiteering and abusing their rate-exempt status by banking large tracts of land.
“Why should they be exempt?” Soorley said.
“Rates are collected to pay for vital infrastructure in our cities. The churches and their followers use public infrastructure and they should pay their share.’’
He said the churches had squandered much goodwill with shameful criminal behaviour.
He singled out the Salvation Army, the Catholic Church and the Anglican Church for special criticism for harbouring pedophiles.
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