Lake Bluff church tax case gets state's attorney's help

[joey]

Double standard, the African American community has been abusing the tax free church status for decades. If you drive down Halsted from 63rd to 83rd St. there are over 100 store front churches. Most of these store fronts are used to conduct illegal activities. The news media is well aware of this, however they don't want to offend the African American community. Lets clean up the act of all and be fair in reporting the clergy abuse.

[Cyclone]

LMAO1 wrote:

<quoted text>
First Amendment.

Okay, let's look at the First Amendment:

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

What I don't see is anything addressing how big your church has to be, how many members, what name it has on the front, etc., etc. Why is this guy being victimized over, say, the Catholic church (where some real crimes have taken place)? Is it just because he's got a small congregation? Hey, even Jesus only started out with 12 followers.

Furthermore, isn't applying tax-free status to some churches and not to others inherently "respecting" one establishment of religion over another? Who's to say one church is deserving of a tax exemption and this guy isn't?

[THE POINT]

This article is not about taxes or religious freedom. This story is about the Michael Brothers and the fact they never met a rule they didn't bend or break. Read up then judge:

http://cases.justia.com/us-court-of-appeals/F...

http://www.obre.state.il.us/CBT/Enforcement/2...

http://www.idfpr.com/DPR/RE/REDISP/REDIS06.as...

George Michael March 7, 2006
The real estate broker was reprimanded and a $1,000.00 was assessed for aiding and abetting the unlicensed practice of real estate by a sponsored licensee.

http://www.idfpr.com/DPR/RE/REDISP/REDIS06.as...

George Michael -- 04/17/01 -- The Real Estate Broker license was reprimanded and a $1,100 dollar fine was assessed for managing a real estate salesperson whose license had expired.

George Michael -- 06/18/01 -- The Real Estate Broker license was placed on probation for 15 months, assessed a $3,000 fine and required to complete continuing education for acting as managing broker of Micheal Realty & Associates, failing to timely return the security deposit and failing to maintain its escrow accounts in conformance with the Act and Rules.

George S. Michael - 08/26/98 - Real Estate Broker license of George S. Michael was placed on probation for one year and a $7,500.00 fine was assessed for Mr. Michael's failure to return $21,000.00 earnest money to the prospective buyers.

http://www.topix.com/forum/city/dolton-il/TMQ...

post on Aug.4, 2007 by "Worried"...can't find the original article

http://www.chicagorealestatedaily.com/cgi-bin...

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists...

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworl...

And if the above articles didn't sicken you...go search the hundreds of lawsuits they have been a party to in the Cook County Court system.

please feel free to add to this list at will...

[LMAO1]

Cyclone wrote:

Who's to say one church is deserving of a tax exemption and this guy isn't?

Like everything else in this country, ultimately SCOTUS decides. You must have missed that day in civics class.

But in this case, all you need is a little common sense.

Really, is it so hard to understand that some guy who obtains a free internet ordination and sets aside a few square feet in his house in order to dodge taxes is not a legit church?

[tax payer]

Ian Michael Gumby wrote:

<quoted text>
$80,000(USD) outrageous taxes?
On a 3 million dollar home 80K represents roughly 2.67%. Is that outrageous?
It may be high but its reasonable, depending on the house and its location.
The guy's a con-man. I believe in other articles printed, he had some other financial issues going on.

He purchased the home for #3 million, that was before adding on an additional 12,000 SQ Ft. The taxes where $35k when he first bought the property.

[Cyclone]

LMAO1 wrote:

<quoted text>
Like everything else in this country, ultimately SCOTUS decides. You must have missed that day in civics class.
But in this case, all you need is a little common sense.
Really, is it so hard to understand that some guy who obtains a free internet ordination and sets aside a few square feet in his house in order to dodge taxes is not a legit church?

I agree. I don't know if this would make it to the Supreme Court, but it is ultimately their decision... there have been cases on other First Amendment religion cases in the past (I'm not a lawyer, but there have been cases regarding use of otherwise-illegal drugs in ceremonies, stuff like that).

All I'm saying is, everyone is so quick to jump on the guy... should there be some sort of standard by which a legitimate "church" is judged?

[THE POINT]

Again...article is not about what a "church" is or isn't. Also not about the fact property taxes blow (they do).

It's a known bad guy finally getting what's due!

[John]

Man, some people that post here are incredibly stupid.

This isn't a church, he did this all to avoid paying taxes. Plain and simple. Now he got caught.

[No Different]

LisaG wrote:

If anyone is interested in seeing what it takes to become an ordained Spiritual Humanist minister, go to http://www.spiritualhumanism.org/
It takes less time to get "ordained" than it does to get an online car insurance quote. And it's free! That's even better than the $15 my cousin paid for his online "ordination."
PS: RML, 80K a year for property tax on a $3-million home doesn't sound unreasonable in a posh suburb.

Go to www.legal-ho.com and become a "state licensed massage therapist" or "personal trainer". They're making more money than these silly lawyers and corporate execs.