Today, Monday, April 18, 2011, is tax day. We all got an extra three days to file our federal returns this year thanks to Emancipation Day, an obscure Washington, D.C., holiday that celebrates the freeing of slaves in the district (the holiday fell on Saturday but was observed on Friday). By the end of the day, however, it is our responsibility to have filed a return or an extension.
Shane Claiborne is a founder of The Simple Way, an advocate of non-violence, and a popular author and speaker (I have even reviewed a book he helped compile). Last week he went public with his decision to stop paying his federal taxes in full because of his beliefs in non-violence. In the Huffington Post he describes himself as “one of those Christians who believe we should still have the right NOT to kill, even in an empire that has a military bigger than Rome’s.” In that article he includes a copy of the letter he sent the IRS:
Dear Internal Revenue Service,
I am filing my 1040 here. As you will see, I made $9,600 this past year, and found that according to the 1040 form, I owe $324.44 of that to federal taxes. While I am glad to contribute money to the common good and towards things that promote life and dignity, especially for the poor and most vulnerable people among us, I am deeply concerned that 30 percent of the federal budget goes towards military spending, with 117 billion going to support the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. (Further, when we include the 18% that goes towards past military costs, such as the 380 billion in debt payments, 80% of which are military related debts, that number goes up to a total military budget of 1,372 billion dollars — nearly half of the federal budget). My Christian faith and my human conscience require me to respectfully reserve the right not to kill, and to refrain from contributing money towards weapons and the military.
For this reason, I am enclosing a check for $227.11, which is, according to the form, 70% of what I owe. The remaining $97.33 represents 30% of my tax payment, the amount that would go towards military spending. I will donate this remaining 30% to a recognized US nonprofit organization working to bring peace and reconciliation. My faith also compels me to submit to the governing authorities, which is why I am writing you respectfully and transparently here. I am glad to discuss this further if you have any questions. I can be reached by phone at 215 423-3598 or by mail at 1838 E. Allegheny Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19134.
May we continue to build the world we dream of.
-Shane Claiborne
So What?
I respect Shane Claiborne’s ministry with the least of these, but am troubled by his latest decision. Others, including Alan Rudnick, have done an excellent job at pointing out Claiborne’s selective reading of the New Testament while encouraging him to pay his taxes in full. I, too, hope he will see the error of his ways and understand how this type of activity will lessen his credibility. There are options available to those seeking to reform our current federal income tax laws, but incomplete letter writing combined with partial payments fails to meet those standards.
How would you respond to Shane Claiborne or any Christian who wanted to stop paying the portion of her/his federal taxes because it funded something he/she didn’t support?