However, this is largely correct. German offices don't even talk to each other without your consent. It can be frustrating at times.
Germany also has some of the strongest photography laws I know of. You have a certain expectation of privacy even in public.
In the United States, most Protestant churches are run by tithe (voluntary donation) and are not taxed at all (the Establishment Clause) or are paid as mandatory fee directly to the synagogue or local congregation. Most Protestant churches in the U.S. have seen declining membership and tithing, but that is not the fault of the government, and church tax is precisely the opposite of what Jesus and Paul laid out, as well as the allocation of tithes in Malachi.
In neither case should or can the government get involved.
Most churches in the U.S. are not megachurches. Most are much smaller. The abuses of a few shouldn't taint the whole concept.
They won't come for atheists first.
In Germany, members of the church pay for the church service, it is made available to them by the church. It's just how it is, you pay the tax, and then you can marry for free, attend church for free, baptise your children free of charge, ...
If you don't want to use or don't need their services, you can always cancel your church membership. It costs one visit to Bürgeramt and a few euros.
I am sick of people staying in church and complaining that they should not pay. Before church tax, everyone had to pay through taxes, even people that are not members of catholic or evangelical church, like atheists and members of other confessions. That is immoral. Either pay or leave the church if it is not worth it for you to pay.
Then again, I'm completely stumped as to why the government of a secular country (by constitution!) would ever involve so deeply in clerical matters that it would collect taxes for them, free of charge. That system is so dated and out of place for a modern society, I'm not surprised foreigners are very much irritated by it.
Another issue is that you have to pay to opt out of being a member obliged to pay the tax. This is not about the amount (~10-60€), but the fact that all children of christian parents end up being church members before they're even old enough to decide for themselves, thus having to pay the tax or pay to opt out. The same applies to foreigners unaware of this.
If churches had no tax to rely on, maybe they'd be more engaged to not continually loose members...
If you take the relatively small state funding away and make the churches seek members to fund themselves, then be prepared that they will go and do just that. We might get American style megachurches with everything that comes with them, real fast.
I realise it is an argument based on fear, but oh do I fear it.
Your church decided to task the government with this. The government takes a cut for the trouble.
So no, it's not done free of charge.
This topic has its history. Agree it's outdated, but at least the state gets paid for the service of collecting membership from church member.
> That system is so dated and out of place for a modern society, I'm not surprised foreigners are very much irritated by it.
Foreigners and their unawareness or awareness of anything are not a group important enough for any state to consider their legislation.
> Another issue is that you have to pay to opt out of being a member obliged to pay the tax. This is not about the amount (~10-60€), but the fact that all children of christian parents end up being church members before they're even old enough to decide for themselves, thus having to pay the tax or pay to opt out.
But it is an opt-in, although outdated. First, your parents sign you up. Then, during the confirmation, you decide you want to keep your membership. I said outdated here because historically, confirmation was an entry point to adulthood, and it was considered that they were grown up to accept or reject church membership. It's only a modern-day habit and regulation that we consider 18 years old as adults.
Anyways, people usually know they are baptised and that they will have to pay church tax. Many enjoy 18 years of trial membership for free before they cancel the subscription, or let it continue, depending on their personal preference.
> The same applies to foreigners unaware of this.
Like in any other country, foreigners are expected to get themselves familiar with local laws before moving to a country. Latest after first pay cheque, they are aware they are paying church fee.
What I see about some foreigners is they complain they have to pay church tax, but don't want to leave the church because of "reasons". Well, sorry, guys, at least one third of Germans did exactly that, left the church, partially because they would rather not pay. If your church membership is worth it to you, just pay and shut up, if it's not, cancel it. If you want that other pay for your church membership, go to other country where churches get tax money from everyone. I also don't complain that I can't get Amazon Prime free of charge.
> If churches had no tax to rely on, maybe they'd be more engaged to not continually loose members...
I'm fine with them having to struggle to provide a better service. Also fine with them losing members.
Besides, not every person who is religious even goes to church.. and even if they go, they don't necessarily go every day or even every year of their life. So it makes no sense to tax them unless you could monitor when they go to church.
Churches, however, could be taxed on their revenue, which does not invade the privacy of their members.
The German Catholic church needs to be careful not to drive away their tithes with a hateful message. Catholicism in Germany is like a gym membership: nobody shows up but they forget to cancel and keep paying.
My creed should not earn me a financial penalty. Specially since they don't tell you about the consequences beforehand.
e.g. upon reaching adulthood you are sent an opt-in confirmation
If you ignore, you are automatically removed
It is absurd that you have to waste your time & money to make an appointment, go to the appointment and on top of that pay to opt-out
Uh...
> to collect church tax.
What??
No, none of that is OK.