German bishops move to deny sacraments to church tax scofflaws

[UrbScotty]

Germany has long required people who are members of a church or a synagogue to pay a tax that supports the church and its operations. But as more Catholics decline to pay, the church is telling them if they don't pay, they won't be allowed to receive church sacraments.

Germany levies a tax on anyone officially affiliated with a Christian church or a Jewish synagogue — an extra eight percent of what you pay in yearly income tax.

In recent years, more and more Catholics have been refusing to pay it. But last week, Germany’s Catholic Bishops said no more. If you don’t pay the tax, you don’t receive communion and other religious services.

A German court just ruled the church was within its rights to say no.

http://www.pri.org/stories/politics-society/religion/germans-angered-catholic-church-decision-deny-sacraments-taxes-11680.html

At first glance, this seems like the effort to deny the Eucharist to people who don't 'toe the line' on things like abortion or marriage.

I mean, as long as they are still in a "state of grace," I don't see a reason to deprive them of the spiritual food of the Eucharist.

[Fortinbras Armstrong]

1. German law says the bishops may deny the Eucharist to those who do not pay the tax

However, Canon Law says the opposite. Canon 912 says "Any baptized person not prohibited by law can and must be admitted to holy communion."

And who are prohibited by law? That is given in Canon 915

Those who have been excommunicated or interdicted after the imposition or declaration of the penalty and others obstinately persevering in manifest grave sin are not to be admitted to holy communion.

Nothing there about "those who do not pay the Church tax".