IMO, it is because of the charitable works they do. They provide a series of services that are invaluable to society. Since virtually every religion gets the status, and so many other charitable service also get it, it seems appropriate to me. Basically, there need either be this granted to churches, or nobody.
No religion, nor lack thereof, is treated preferentially. That was the point of saying they ALL get tax-free status. Were they a business, they would be treated as such. Those religions that begin to act as a "for profit" business do risk losing their tax free status. For example, the constant talks about the churches that allow politicians to speak, or the LDS church about 20+ years ago and their "investments", etc. There are pretty strict guidelines.
Well, those actions are given a tax free status. Deductions, just like the ones you take on your taxes. However, they're taxed on their profit-side.
Reasonable assertion.
. Then the pastor would leave in his (one of 4) Cadillac to his 4500 sq ft home. The guy was rolling the dough.True. Many, but not all, are going in that direction. They're mainly out for the "numbers" (membership). I've always said that, if I get to pastor a church again, the first thing I'd do is do away with it's tax exempt status so that I never have to fear "free speech". That's ironic isn't it?After watching so many tele-evangelists get rich on the backs of poor, unassuming viewers; and now watching the Rev. Wright hypocrisy (you know… that $10,000,000 home he’s having built for himself in a white neighborhood with two $50,000 cars waiting to be parked there?), I’m feeling that perhaps they should be taxed.
For a short time I was a member of a church down on the panhandle of FL; one of those charismatic churches that spoke in tongues and performed prophesy and all that. The pastor of that church preached endlessly about giving and “dig deep” when it came to the poor,
Every year this church would throw a “Jesus Celebration” concert. All sorts of local musicians would play. One year they had a band called David and the Giants. After they played, the pastor passed around the collection plate. People gave. Then The Giants played some more while they counted the money. The pastor had the nerve to get up on the stage and demand people give more and passed around the plates again.
I quit that church. I’m sorry to say this but churches have become a money-making racket. Not all of them, but a great many of them. The first thing I look for when I seek out a church is what kind of car the preacher is driving.
Yes, I have become more convinced that churches should be taxed.
I wasn't striking out against it, I brought it up because it was one of the churches in the news that almost lost (as a whole, not a local church) it's tax exempt status due to it's actions. It was a big deal in the news years ago, and I haven't heard of too many churches that were that close to losing their status on a national level.
