Independence Law Center Tells Court:
Don’t Tax Religious Groups!
Harrisburg, PA — The Independence Law Center filed a friend-of-the-court brief today in a case in which Susquehanna County, Pa. is attempting to assess a hotel tax on Montrose Bible Conference, a Christian conference and campground.
“Taxing authorities are increasingly targeting religious groups,” said Jeremy Samek, Senior Counsel for the Independence Law Center. “In this case, attempting to tax the Montrose Bible Conference as a ‘hotel’ is a prime example of government overreach toward religious groups,” said attorney Brent Moon, ally of the Independence Law Center and prime author of the brief.
“Our concern in these cases is that if the government can tax religious entities, those entities will lose their religious independence,” said Randall Wenger, Chief Counsel of the Independence Law Center. “Consider the manipulating power that the tax code can have over our own actions. If we wish to maintain the independence of our religious institutions, we need to protect them from that control.”
This case is being heard by the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania, the state appellate court hearing appeals of government related cases. Susquehanna County appealed this case to the Commonwealth Court after the trial court ruled in favor of Montrose Bible Conference.
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That doesn’t even make sense! It’d be different if the lodging were open year round, to all comers, but it’s specifically used for gatherings and ministry. How can they impose a hotel tax? I pray that common sense will prevail.