Tax free terrorism – Christian privilege hides sinister possibilities.

Senator Nick Xenophon has introduced legislation into the senate calling for a public benefits test to be applied to religious organisations wanting to take advantage of tax breaks given to churches and religious groups by virtue of the fact that they are promoting religion (deemed in the distant past to a virtuous thing in itself).

Link:

Search for leaders of doomsday cult

South Australian police are continuing their search for the leaders of an international doomsday cult after they uncovered a stockpile of weapons and explosives during raids of the group's compounds yesterday.

About 90 police searched 12 properties in Adelaide used by Agape Ministries, finding guns, fuses, detonators, detonator cords and 20,000 rounds of ammunitions - some of which were hidden in the steel frames of bed-heads.

But Superintendent Jim Jeffery of South Australian police's Commercial and Electronic Crime Branch said it was not yet known why the group was amassing weapons.

Link: SMH

Presumably this religion applied for and received tax free status. So, because I pay taxes, my money has been spent on guns. Way to go religious wingnuts!

Xenophon again fails to get up inquiry into Scientology

The Senate has rejected a call for a parliamentary inquiry into the controversial Church of Scientology.

A group of former members of the church watched from the public gallery as independent senator Nick Xenophon argued the case for a Senate inquiry today.

He said Scientology had engaged in criminal and unconscionable conduct, harassment and stalking, while benefiting from tax-exempt status.

Link - SMH:

Xenophon is never gonna get this idea on its feet. Any finding against the Church of Scientology would have to copy directly to other religions.