War Tax Resistance Event in Washington DC

By H. A. Penner

Kathy Boylan invited me to speak at the Dorothy Day Catholic Worker about war tax resistance for their March 6th clarification of thought. Around 30 persons were present.  The group was composed of both young and old. The best part of the evening was the extensive and engaging group dialogue! There was a high level of interest expressed about federal tax resistance/redirection. I came away encouraged! Below is what I shared with the group:

Recently, I heard the “story with a moral” about a teacher who took a fish out of its bowl and left the classroom, leaving the children to watch as the fish flopped around. Before he left, the teacher told them that, if anyone left their seat, they would be expelled.

The children sat and watched as the fish flopped, gasping for air. They did not want to get up and get in trouble.

Finally, a girl sprang from her seat, ran to the fish and placed it back in the bowl. Ultimately, she was the only one who refused to watch the fish die.

When the teacher returned, he told the class that this was a lesson. He said that the fear of getting in trouble should never stop one from doing what is right. Sometimes you may have to oppose authority and “group think,” simply because it is the right thing to do.

I often think of this story, more so now that we as US taxpayers contemplate how to resist a militaristic authoritarian federal government. As a life-long conscientious objector to war, I object on religious grounds to the payment of that portion of my federal income taxes that supports militaristic authoritarianism. Instead, I redirect the levy elaborated on my federal income tax forms to my local church to be used in its peacebuilding activities that include its annual budgeted contribution to the denomination’s Church Peace Tax Fund that:

• Provides a way to redirect resources from warmaking to problem-solving programs which, unlike war, are a realistic path to peace.
• Models what the US government has not yet been able to enact — the Religious Freedom Peace Tax Fund legislation.
• Provides resources for the peace and justice education of future generations.
• Acknowledges and honors courageous peacebuilders each year who have faithfully paved the path of peace.
• Contributes to the development of a peace and justice advocacy movement.
• Provides young people with alternatives to military enlistment.
• Makes available scholarships for youth to participate in annual peace camps.

While withholding federal taxes for moral reasons is currently illegal, I believe the US Constitution outlines this right as one of religious freedom.

In response to Jesus’ exhortation to love our neighbors (Matthew 22:39) and our enemies (Matthew 5:44), it is appropriate to support those who, because of conscience, are unwilling to pay taxes that underwrite militaristic authoritarianism.

Paying taxes that support militaristic authoritarianism — often more than we contribute to our churches — affects our convictions. Why do we taxpayers continue to pay for something that violates our deepest beliefs? Why do we pay for something we don’t want?

The United States is the world’s leading purveyor of arms sales, global warfare and militarism. According to Geographical magazine, the US has a larger military budget than the next nine countries combined, as well as a weapons industry that dominates the global arms trade. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute reports that the US currently spends three times what China does and more than six times what the Russians sink into their militaries.  If your product is a weapon, your market is war, as we can see in the rising use of US military forces both domestically and abroad.

Although I am a federal tax resister/redirector, I am not opposed to paying taxes. I willingly pay that portion of my tax liability that goes toward peace-oriented systems and supports life. But I am a religious conscientious objector to the death and destruction that the current United States authoritarian military apparatus represents and am compelled as a disciple of Jesus to take this action.

I urge the US Congress to pass the Religious Freedom Peace Tax Fund Bill (H.R. 4529 in the 117th Congress) that would recognize the constitutional right for individuals to practice religious beliefs according to their consciences.

“Our task is not to be popular or to be seen as having an impact, but to speak the deepest truths that we know.  We need to live our lives in accord with the deepest truths that we know, even if doing so does not produce immediate results in the world.”—Daniel Berrigan, SJ