Should Churches Remain Tax-Exempt?

[Jenny A]

Yes. We'd do it to the Elk's club too. What would be the difference? Frankly, property taxes cover use of city roads etc. Like businesses and club (which is what they are), churches make considerable demands on the infrastructure surrounding them. That comes out of my tax dollars thank you very much.

And I might add that the mortgage company would foreclose if the mortgage is not paid church or no. I've been to some lovely restaurants, B&Bs, art cinemas that were once churches. Why should churches get a privilege from the government that they don't get from the financial industry?

What founding principle would that be?

The difference is engaging in activities of being an "Elk" is not constitutionally protected to be free from laws prohibiting the exercise thereof. It it is true that laws can be made which limit the exercise of religion when it is deemed those laws are necessary. Nobody has ever shown that unless we start taxing churches the state will be unable to fulfill its obligations.

Life is full of trade offs. If we are going to have freedom of religion in this country to the maximum extent possible....which seems to be the intent of the First Amendment.....it necessitates tax exemption of churches.

Personally I do not have a problem with eliminating tax deductions to charitable organization including church's. I do have problem taxing church property used for worship and church receipts from the congregation.

The First Amendment says:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof

By granting a tax exemption for property not granted to others, I'd say Congress is establishing religion. Taxing property and income in the same way it taxes everyone else and every other organization is not prohibiting.