If you don't pay up, we won't bury you say German catholic bosses

[Mentalman]

German Catholics must pay to pray, court rules

Germany's top court has ruled that Catholics who opt out of paying religious taxes must automatically leave the church as well.

The court's verdict is a victory for the Catholic Church in Germany, which receives more than €5bn annually from a surcharge of up to 9pc on income tax bills of registered Catholics.

The judges ruled against retired German theologian Hartmut Zapp, who wanted to leave the church as an institution but remain a member of the Catholic community.

Germany's bishops have said that believers who refuse to pay the tax won't be able to receive the sacraments, become godparents or have a religious funeral.

- Elin Gardner, Berlin

http://www.independent.ie/world-news/europe/german-catholics-must-pay-to-pray-court-rules-3242019.html

[mylestheslasher]

I think it is an excellent idea to tax religion. Charge 8% and half of that could go towards the money they never paid in compensation to victims of child rape. The rest they can use to build fancy roofs on their churches. We'd find out how many true Catholics there are in Ireland.