Bishop sparks opposition to church 'user fees', gambling expansion

Two controversial bills now making their way through the Indiana state legislature have drawn strong, negative reactions from church leaders, with Bishop Woodie W. White mustering the opposition.

At press time, Bishop White and other church leaders were scheduled to meet with Indiana Gov. Frank O'Bannon on Thursday, March 29 to urge him to veto the bills if they reach his desk.

House Bill #1574 would levy "user fees" on local churches, schools and other not-for-profit entities. Having been passed by the Indiana House of Representatives, it is now in the hands of the state Senate. If passed and signed into law by the Governor, it will go into effect July 1, this year.

The bill authorizes public safety user fees on property owners to help cover police and fire department pensions. Unlike the property tax from which churches are exempt, Indiana municipalities could extend this fee to tax-exempt property owners like churches and other non-profit entities.

Bishop White, and others including top church officials from the Episcopal, Quaker, Baptist, Disciples of Christ, Roman Catholic, Church of Christ and Lutheran churches, have signed a formal statement "strongly opposing" HB #1574 to be presented to the governor. The resolution says, in part:

"A user fee is simply a euphemism for a tax. . House Bill 1574 would essentially require the paying of property taxes by churches.. Our Indiana legislature made these organizations exempt from paying property taxes because of the services they provide to the community. The churches we represent serve those in need of help, offering programs for the elderly, the materially poor and the homeless. Our congregations have outreach programs that serve the communities around them ."

The statement concludes that the bill, if passed, "â€¦ would have a severe impact not only on our congregations but also on the hundreds of thousands of persons we serve."

Gambling expansion

The other bill about which White and other church leaders express their concern is House Bill #1729 which would significantly expand gambling in Indiana. It provides for dockside gambling. In addition it would allow for wider availability of electronic forms of betting. At a meeting of the House Rules Committee on March 26, the Rev. Dick Hamilton read a statement on behalf of the bishop and other church leaders decrying the state's increasing dependency on gambling. It said in part, "It is unconscionable for the state to market aggressively and participate heavily in invitations to its citizens to put their financial and social well-being at risk. "

The statement was to have been read again during the bishop's meeting with O'Bannon March 29. It concludes by thanking the governor for his consistent opposition to any expansion of gambling and urges that he give "special attention and energy to the legislative momentum now threatening that wisdom."

Efforts to stem the tide of gambling in the state are ongoing by the bishop and the Indiana Coalition against Legalized Gambling. The principles of the coalition have been affirmed by both North and South Annual Conferences in Indiana.

Log on to the state of Indiana's Web site www.state.in.us/ where you can find information on HB #1729 and HB #1574.

Last updated January 14, 2004

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