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A number of people have apparently complained to the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission over the Australian Christian Lobby’s funding of Folau’s legal case. There is a deeper question here. 1/6
Mightn’t it be time to review the criteria for organisations being registered as charities in Australia? A charitable purpose includes ‘the advancement of religion’ and charitable status ensures a range of tax breaks and other advantages. 2/6
That means that every tax payer is funding Folau’s breach of contract case. Every taxpayer funded the ‘no’ campaign in the marriage equality debate. Every taxpayer is funding the Catholic Church’s legal attempts to deny redress to victims of sexual assault. 3/6
Every taxpayer is adding to the massive wealth of Hillsong and other megachurches. Every taxpayer is keeping Scientology flourishing. 4/6
This isn’t an argument against allowing genuine charitable organisations or charitable work within religious organisations to attract these tax advantages. 5/6
It is simply asking if in a secular nation like Australia, where an increasing number of us are of no religion, whether the ‘advancement of religion’ ought to be considered a charitable purpose. What is the public benefit in it? 6/6
