In Countries Where Same Sex Marriages Are Legal, THW Remove The Tax Exempt

Status Of Religious Organizations Which Refuse To Bless/Officiate Same Sex

Marriages
Same-sex marriage, also known as gay marriage, is the marriage of two people of the same sex or
gender. As of 2022, marriage between same-sex couples is legally performed and recognized in 32
countries

Legal – permitted by law.

Tax Exempt Status – Tax exemption is the reduction or removal of a liability to make a compulsory
payment that would otherwise be imposed by a ruling power upon persons, property, income, or
transactions. Tax-exempt status may provide complete relief from taxes, reduced rates, or tax on only a
portion of items

Removing Tax Exempt status – no longer exempt from federal income tax and will have to pay
corporate income tax on annual revenue (Need to pay tax). Done by IRS (Internal Revenue Service), is
the revenue service for the United States federal government, which is responsible for collecting taxes
and administering the Internal Revenue Code, the main body of the federal statutory tax law.

Officiating marriage – Witnessing the consent of the intended spouses for the wedding license and
hence validate the marriage or civil union for legal purposes.

Blessing a marriage – A wedding blessing acts as a declaration of approval of the union, especially in
cultures where family and community are important. Religious wedding blessings typically appeal to a
higher power to watch over the couple and lead them to a long and prosperous marriage.

How it applies to same sex marriages – In 2014, the church allowed ministers to enter into same-sex
marriages and to offer blessing services for same-sex couples in civil marriages. In 2021, the Methodist
Church's conference overwhelmingly voted to allow the marriage of same-sex couples in Methodist
churches.

Refusing to Bless/Officiate Same Sex Marriages – Vatican Says Catholic Church Cannot Bless Same-Sex
Marriages "The presence in such relationships of positive elements ... cannot justify these relationships
and render them legitimate objects of an ecclesial blessing,"

Quotes
Will Smith – If anybody can find someone to love them and help them through this difficult thing that we
call life, I support that in any shape or any form.

Stephen Fry – "I want the same happiness I have found to be afforded to those in Ireland too. Give
people a chance to marry and have their love celebrated."

President Obama himself – same sex couples should be able to get married
Facts
A comedian, Stephen Fry, recorded a message asking people to vote in favor of same-sex marriage. He
married his fiancé Elliot Spencer earlier this year. "I want the same happiness I have found to be
afforded to those in Ireland too. Give people a chance to marry and have their love celebrated."

According to an Ipsos poll published in April 2018, 73% of the British public supported same-sex
marriage, while 8% believed it should be banned.

The Dublin Gaelic Games star, Ger Brennan is one of the few Irish sportsmen to speak out against same-
sex marriage. He said he had concerns about gay married couples raising children. "It would have been
easier to keep my mouth shut and not rock the boat. I know I'm not homophobic; my gay friends and
family can attest to that. "I am voting 'No' because I don't want our constitution to deny that it is a good
thing for a child to have a mother and a father."

Does IRS recognize same-sex marriages?

The Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service have recognized all legal same-sex marriages
for federal tax purposes. US Dept. of Treasury and the IRS ruled that same-sex couples, legally married in
jurisdictions that recognize their marriages, will be treated as married for federal tax purposes.

A new worry in conservative circles has slowly gathered steam since the Supreme Court heard
arguments in Obergefell v. Hodges, on whether the Constitution requires states to issue marriage
licenses to and recognize the out-of-state marriages of same-sex couples. During oral arguments, Justice
Samuel Alito asked Solicitor General Donald Verrilli whether the tax-exempt status of religious colleges
and universities who opposed same-sex marriage would be in jeopardy should the Court hold for the
plaintiffs. Verrilli hedged, saying he’d have to know more details to answer the question, but conceded
that that it would “be an issue.” That was enough for conservatives to start raising alarm bells about the
Internal Revenue Service (which they already hate) yanking the tax exemption of religious organizations
and churches who oppose same-sex marriage.