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DEL.ICIO.USThe next new cause for the Religious Right
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
File this under unintended consequences.
The National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys is putting out the word that last year’s revision to the nation’s bankruptcy laws by Congress could have a huge impact on Christians and others who feel called upon to tithe.
A federal bankruptcy judge in New York has ruled that those going through bankruptcy may not tithe or make other charitable donations until they’ve paid off their credit card companies. Since more than 2 million Americans filed for bankruptcy last year, and hundreds of thousands more will do so this year, a huge chunk of change is at stake.
In the organization’s press release, issued Thursday, NACBA president Henry Sommer turned a biblical phrase: “The 2005 reform legislation didn’t just reword the federal bankruptcy code, it also effectively rewrote Exodus and Deuteronomy.”
Conceivably, you could argue that giving to your church is a form of protected religious expression, much as many argue that making campaign contributions is a kind of political speech.
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By mo
September 7, 2006 1:29 PM | Link to this
As for someone who think that the bankruptcy law changes went too far, I am not surprised.
I can’t stand the whole credit card industry. I think they are leeches and I would like to see the bankruptcy laws changed back.
By Ross
September 7, 2006 1:37 PM | Link to this
I believe the Judge was correct. These people made loans from the banks that issued the cards. The loans should be paid before the people who made the loans should be able to direct where money should go.
By John
September 7, 2006 1:37 PM | Link to this
Along with tort reform on the state level, the new bankruptcy law was the most misguided piece of legislation in recent memory. THere are a very few who abused bankruptcy but the vast, vast majority are forced to file due to medical bills, medical disability and companies shutting down or laying off workers in communities where there is no alternative employment. It is wrong to prevent those in bankruptcy from supporting the one institution that still is there for them, in most cases the church.
Oh, well, we in Georgia still are awaiting those huge rollbacks in prices we were promised two years ago when the Georgia legislature supposedly ended the “litigation tax.” We won’t get those rollbacks anymore than we will get the promised cuts in credit card interest rates under the new bankruptcy legislation. Both pieces of legislation were passed on promises that now turn out to be lies and only make the greedy greedier.
By RiverRat
September 7, 2006 1:46 PM | Link to this
Well John, welcome to Sonny’s “new day”. Of course, all the things that Dems warned about with these bills has happened. Not to mention Dem warnings about Part D, etc. There is a reason that America is not very happy with their Republican Congress right now.
By TJ Spinks
September 7, 2006 2:18 PM | Link to this
This is another example of debtors refusing to accept responsibility for their own financial situation. Perhaps “tithing” should have been part of your personal budget plan before you made the decision to go several thousands of dollars into debt. Don’t blame the government for failure to manage your own finances. Bankruptcy literally means that you are bankrupt and can’t pay off your financial obligations. Why should you be permitted to donate money for charity or fund the preacher’s salary when you can’t even pay your own bills?
By snd
September 7, 2006 3:08 PM | Link to this
Over 50% of al bankruptcies are due to medical costs or lay-offs. That whole ‘accept responsiblility’ line is way over-used. Walk a mile in their shoes, then tell me what you think.
By ChrisD
September 7, 2006 3:08 PM | Link to this
It’s always interesting that liberals only want “Separation of Church and State” when it suits them. Prayer in schools? No. Restrictions on tithing? Yes.
By Rawena
September 7, 2006 3:36 PM | Link to this
A federal bankruptcy judge in New York has ruled that those going through bankruptcy may not tithe or make other charitable donations until they’ve paid off their credit card companies. Since more than 2 million Americans filed for bankruptcy last year, and hundreds of thousands more will do so this year, a huge chunk of change is at stake.
I hate to “do-a-debbie” and cut and paste, but the restriction is equally applied to church and non-sectartian organizations. Why do you throw the church-state arguement out there?
By Meltdown
September 7, 2006 4:36 PM | Link to this
Could this bill have anything to do with the fact that MBNA, the poster child of predatory lenders, has purchased both Congress and the White House? Could those crafty liberals have actually managed to have all that money funneled through the GOP so it would look like their fault when Bubba can’t tithe? Oh, the deviousness of it all!
By Hears a Who?
September 8, 2006 6:14 AM | Link to this
BTW, you mispelled Deuteronomy.
While I normally don’t side with the church on most of it’s idiocy (see http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/education/story/F58D5B62348A191B862571E2006AE064?OpenDocument), I think they have a case here. I don’t think any government should interfere with the exercise of a religious “duty.” (Pardon the Pun).
By Meltdown
September 8, 2006 10:05 AM | Link to this
I would tend to agree, except for the fact that these people have petitioned the govt for protection from their creditors. As a condition of this protection, they have voluntarily given up control of their assets. After they’ve paid their contractual debts, they can go back to paying Preacher BillyBob.
By Susan
September 8, 2006 12:31 PM | Link to this
Preacher Billy Bob is a good place to “hide” assets from creditors if bankruptcy laws permit tithes. After all, didn’t Holyfield “give” assets to his church in order to hide them from his soon to-be ex wife during their divorce precedings?