$1000 To Have A Wedding In A Church

[MissScripture]

[quote name='Winchester' date='14 June 2010 - 07:56 PM' timestamp='1276559793' post='2128901']
I don't support income tax, either. It's asinine, expensive and ineffective. Sales tax makes much more sense, with a property tac because landed people have responsibility.
[/quote]
See, to me it makes more sense to have an income tax than a property tax, though sales tax is the most logical, to me. I don't understand why you should have to pay for something you're not making money off of (in a large number of cases) and you've already paid for in the first place!

[Winchester]

[quote name='MissScripture' date='14 June 2010 - 08:01 PM' timestamp='1276560117' post='2128905']
See, to me it makes more sense to have an income tax than a property tax, though sales tax is the most logical, to me. I don't understand why you should have to pay for something you're not making money off of (in a large number of cases) and you've already paid for in the first place!
[/quote]
Property tax is more straighforward. Income tax takes tons of stupid rules to overcome the fact that it screws up peoples' savings and taxes money several times over. Our tax code is ridiculous.

[homeschoolmom]

When we were married (19 years ago tomorrow), we did not have to pay anything for the use of the church. We gave the pastor who married us $60 (I think), which was what the secretary told us was "average."

[MissScripture]

[quote name='Winchester' date='14 June 2010 - 08:05 PM' timestamp='1276560314' post='2128906']
Property tax is more straighforward. Income tax takes tons of stupid rules to overcome the fact that it screws up peoples' savings and taxes money several times over. Our tax code is ridiculous.
[/quote]
I would, quite honestly, be cool with just having sales tax (even though I know it would then be through the roof, but hey, if we weren't paying income taxes we'd be making more money). I've never really had to deal with the rules of income tax, as currently my income is negative (thanks, so much, school!) and any time I've had to file, my grandpa or hubby, who both for some unknown reason finds it fun, prepared my taxes (and even then, it wasn't like I was making much money anyway). I guess if it were more of a straightforward tax, like sales tax ( X% of every dollar) it would make more sense. But I just do NOT see how property tax makes any sense at all. When someone can't afford to pay taxes on property they've owned for how many years, just because it's suddenly viewed as more valuable to someone else, I just don't get it.

ETA: I also don't get how property tax is at all fair when I am allowed to use all the services that property tax pays for, but I'm not paying property tax.

Edited June 15, 2010 by MissScripture

[1337 k4th0l1x0r]

The parish is not at all a ritzy parish. They used to have an old church, but they were forced to combine with a nearby parish and build a new church. In fact, the church proper has not been built. They have only built the school and a family life center. It is there that they currently have mass.

Anyways, another shady aspect of this is that they want the $1000 in cash. They claim it's to pay the organist and priest, but the whole thing is starting to sound like something else is going on.

[Maggyie]

I am a parishioner at our Cathedral and while I'm not engaged I have taken a peek... the brochure says that they are "uncomfortable charging a fee for the marriage sacrament" and notes that a survey of other (non-Catholic) downtown churches revealed a $1,000 average venue fee... they ask couples to consider their overall wedding budget and the other things they are spending money on and offer, in conscience, the "maximum proportion of $1,000 they are able." I think that is a good way of handling it. It's a beautiful church and being downtown, doesn't have too many regular parishioners for regular support.. Then again $1,000 is a lot of money!

[IgnatiusofLoyola]

[quote name='Winchester' date='14 June 2010 - 07:05 PM' timestamp='1276560314' post='2128906']
Property tax is more straighforward. Income tax takes tons of stupid rules to overcome the fact that it screws up peoples' savings and taxes money several times over. Our tax code is ridiculous.
[/quote]

As someone who spent most of my career "translating" the U.S. Tax Code into something resembling English, I totally agree! It IS ridiculous! And, if you heard the "inside" stories of how tax legislation is written and passed, you'd realize that it is even more ridiculous than it appears from just reading it (and trying to fill out a tax form).

I also agree that property taxes make more sense than income taxes. But, when I say to my relatives in California that the state would have fewer financial problems if it had higher property taxes, it's as if I'd spoken heresy! When Ah-nuld first ran for Governor of CA, Warren Buffett suggested the same thing to him about higher property taxes. Ah-nuld immediately silenced Mr. Buffett, because he knew he wouldn't get elected on that platform.

Edited June 15, 2010 by IgnatiusofLoyola

[MissScripture]

[quote name='1337 k4th0l1x0r' date='14 June 2010 - 08:16 PM' timestamp='1276560976' post='2128910']
The parish is not at all a ritzy parish. They used to have an old church, but they were forced to combine with a nearby parish and build a new church. In fact, the church proper has not been built. They have only built the school and a family life center. It is there that they currently have mass.

Anyways, another shady aspect of this is that they want the $1000 in cash. They claim it's to pay the organist and priest, but the whole thing is starting to sound like something else is going on.
[/quote]
Did they ask for it in non-sequential unmarked bills??

That does sound strange, though. Idk what average fee there is, but our organist cost $200, and so, combined that with the priests (we had three total) that came out to $350. So, if we hadn't been parishoners, the whole church aspect would've cost us between $450-550. But I guess it might depend on the location and what's normal for the area?

[IgnatiusofLoyola]

[quote name='Maggie' date='14 June 2010 - 07:17 PM' timestamp='1276561024' post='2128911']
I am a parishioner at our Cathedral and while I'm not engaged I have taken a peek... the brochure says that they are "uncomfortable charging a fee for the marriage sacrament" and notes that a survey of other (non-Catholic) downtown churches revealed a $1,000 average venue fee... they ask couples to consider their overall wedding budget and the other things they are spending money on and offer, in conscience, the "maximum proportion of $1,000 they are able." I think that is a good way of handling it. It's a beautiful church and being downtown, doesn't have too many regular parishioners for regular support.. Then again $1,000 is a lot of money! [img]http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/public/style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif[/img]
[/quote]

That sounds like a good way to handle it, because it is true that "secular" venues, at least, often charge very high rates to have a wedding there. And, when I hear of couples spending $50,000 or more for the dress, wedding, rehearsal dinner, honeymoon, etc, in proportion to that, $1,000 to acknowledge the most important part of the wedding--the religious service--doesn't sound so out of line.

[Nihil Obstat]

I hear that it's common in some European countries for a couple to just show up to be married at any regular Mass. Sounds like fun- you should look into it.

[zunshynn]

[quote name='Nihil Obstat' date='14 June 2010 - 06:24 PM' timestamp='1276561466' post='2128920']
I hear that it's common in some European countries for a couple to just show up to be married at any regular Mass. Sounds like fun- you should look into it.
[/quote]

wow, that's different.

[MissScripture]

[quote name='Nihil Obstat' date='14 June 2010 - 08:24 PM' timestamp='1276561466' post='2128920']
I hear that it's common in some European countries for a couple to just show up to be married at any regular Mass. Sounds like fun- you should look into it.
[/quote]
Actually, at one parish in my old diocese, I believe they were doing that. Well, not just randomly showing up, but it was included as part of a regular Mass. A deacon who is friends with my parents was ranting (he likes to do that, and it's generally entertaining) about how self-centered Brides have gotten, and what a good idea that is, because then it's not all about the Bride, etc, about a month before my wedding. I made him feel really bad by saying, "I'm SORRY! I'm trying not to be!"

[Nihil Obstat]

[quote name='MissScripture' date='14 June 2010 - 07:29 PM' timestamp='1276561757' post='2128923']
Actually, at one parish in my old diocese, I believe they were doing that. Well, not just randomly showing up, but it was included as part of a regular Mass. A deacon who is friends with my parents was ranting (he likes to do that, and it's generally entertaining) about how self-centered Brides have gotten, and what a good idea that is, because then it's not all about the Bride, etc, about a month before my wedding. I made him feel really bad by saying, "I'm SORRY! I'm trying not to be!"
[/quote]
Whoa, ridiculously huge deja vu reading this post.

[MIKolbe]

we made a $250 donation..in 2000.

[XIX]

[quote name='Winchester' date='14 June 2010 - 08:56 PM' timestamp='1276559793' post='2128901']
I don't support income tax, either. It's asinine, expensive and ineffective. Sales tax makes much more sense, with a property tac because landed people have responsibility.
[/quote]
Well if you don't like income tax, then you should like being married in the state, since it will cause a reduction in your income tax liability.