Ministers Threatened with Jail/Fines For Refusing to Officiate at Gay Weddings

[Heywood]

The real question in my mind is whether religious organizations should have tax exempt status just because they are religious organizations. I think the answer to that question is no. Only separate charitable, political, or educational arms of a church should have tax exempt status and that status should have the same requirements as those for secular organizations including anti-discriminatory laws. Granting them tax exempt status simply because they are churches is the establishment of religion.

- bolded by me

Suppose a church could not afford to pay its property tax. Would the government then be entitled to seize the church and auction it off? Wouldn't such a seizure deprive the members of the church the ability to worship God as they see fit?

Keeping churches tax exempt makes it a little easier to maintain the church/state separation in my opinion.