Tithing and Bankruptcy Law [UPDATED]
The Salt Lake Tribune reports on a recent decision by a New York judge who, pointing to the new bankruptcy law passed nearly a year ago, determined that those who have filed bankruptcy, contrary to the provisions of the Religious Liberty Act passed in the 1990s, now must repay creditors before being allowed to continue tithing or making other charitable contributions.
Although the ruling isn't expected to have any immediate impact outside New York, it may encourage credit card companies and other creditors to seek similar rulings in Utah and other states, said Henry Sommer, president of the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys.Religion Clause has more here, including a link to the Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys' press release.
"Our nation's founding fathers who envisioned a separation of church and state never imagined that this division would be used to engorge the profits of moneylenders at the expense of churches," he said.
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The Religious Liberty Act, which allowed tithing and other charitable donations to be made by those in bankruptcy, was signed into law by former President Clinton. At that time, Clinton said it would be "a great loss to all of our citizens for creditors to recoup their losses in bankruptcy cases from donations made in good faith by our citizens to their churches and charitable institutions."
[UPDATE: The Washington Times adds a report to this issue here]