The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-08-09
CITY CHURCHES
WILLING TO PAY
JUST TAXATION
Levy Held Fair If Buildings
Are Used for Profit
by Tenants.
Continued From Page One

members during the depression.
summer vacation Bible schools for
young people which take care OF
the morning hours Of hundreds OF
children IN indianapolis for four OF
five weeks. splendid gymnasiums for
young people. splendid classes n
music for both young and old
health clinics for all. cooperation
with the church named or affiliated
hospitals Of the city. support OF
vacation camps for young people
and many other services which di
rectly meet the social service needs
Of the community.
The Rev. l. c + Fackler pastor
OF ST. Matthews Evangelical Luth-
Gran church East New York and
oxford streets. goes very deeply
into ne question Of taxation.
Church property IN which church
scrW.es arc conducted OF the pa
sonaCe or church clybrooms. used
for church purposes. should no, be
taxed Nh Fackler states.
Taxation Is Favored
ANY and all property including
vacant lots. owned by the church
OF IN the name OF the church,
should be- taxed he continues
"Domitories. hotels and Office
build ngs held by social clubs or the
Ike should be taxed.
That. NJ Fackler contends. will
reduce sCme Of the fifty-million
monte xable properties in this coun-
IS AID VIII place more property on
the duplicates.
The RI. Re-. Joseph NJ Francis,
bishop Of the Indianapolis diocese
OF thu Episcopal church. lays much
emphasis upon the public service
Of ne church.
"A church in the community is
there not for the purpose of raising
money for itself. Bishop Francis
states. but to render public service
free to everybody. Its ministers are
called upon to render any service
within their ability.
Should BE of Service
As long as a church is fulfilling
tina service. It should be free from
t7X1ton. When dead or doing Moth
ing for the good of the community.
II .hould be done away with alto
g7thcr or then tax II.
The figures show that the esti-
mated Roman Cathode membership
in indianapolis is 10000 and the
estimated Protestant membership in
Indianapolis and Marion county IS
100 600
The number OF school children III
the parochial schools of the Roman
church is $3.50 IN the
grades and 1857 in high schools
and academies.
The report of the executive COM
mittea of the Indiana Council of Re-
ligiOus Education for the year 1882
1888 gives the Protestant Sunday
school enrolment of Marion county
al 63.o76
All Faiths Unite
The work. social and religious,
done by these great schools will be
considered in a special article deal
ing with the Bible School Cavalcade
of this city and county.
Protestant. Catholic and Jewish
leaders of Indianapolis have united
in a movement to aid the successful
operation of the National Recovery
Act.
In this program. these church
leaders. both national and local. not
only see a new deal for better
religious life. but a social program
OF which they have dreamed for
years.
This cooperation again throws
much light on the question of
church taxation and the common
SorSe attitade of local church lead
erS
Cooperation Is Urged
Dr. Evans Of the Church Fedora
ton has on his desk a Joint state
ment of three great religious bodies.
calling upon Catholic. protestant
and Jewish leaders of indianapolis
for hearty cooperation of all in
the successful operation of the ma
tional industrial recovery act so
there may be realized the maximum
social justice and economic CO.
operation possible"
This great forward appeal of the
church. aiding TO bring better
social and industrial life to In
dianapolls and all other cities. is
signed by three of the most I'M
portcnt national leaders Of the
Protestant Catholic and Jewish
churches.
IdlS statement. the suggestions of
which Or Evans already has put
into effect. according to the church
leaders. commands interest because
of IFS human and ethical signlfi-
cance and because II has incorpo-
rated into law some OF the social
ideals and principles for which our
religious organizations have stood
for years"
The church is aiding 10 push
President Roosevelt's new deal for
ward 10 success.
The next article in this series will
loaI x.-,fA fha p.o-I~s.