2006-07-25 11:14:27 · 12 answers · asked by ↓ImWithStupid ░░▒▒▓▓ 4 in Politics & Government ➔ Politics
Of course. "Give unto Caesar what is Caesar's" and all that; not to mention that separation of church and state means that churches should not be treated preferentially.
2006-07-25 11:18:15 · answer #1 · answered by grinningleaf 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No. Churches, synagogues, mosques and other places of worship provide an important public services. Religion provides citizens with moral and ethical guidance and education. Also, members of religion provide charitably to society, typically without regard to an individual's religious persuasion.
This guidance, education and charity would otherwise have to be provided by the government. Since we prefer not to live in a theocracy, and since taxing places of worship would detract from the ability to provide these public goods, we should not tax places of worship.
Tax policy also strongly regards the separation of religion and government. Levying taxes against places of worship is clearly repugnant to this policy.
Finally, consider the randomness and potential for abuse in levying property taxes against places of worship. Property tax is an ad valerom tax, meaning it is a tax against the value of the property. While there might be an active market for residential condos, the market for an eighteenth century Protestant meeting house is very limited. There are not too many sales of churches, synagogues, mosques or cemeteries, are there?
The property tax is simply not a good means to exact public good from a place of worship.
2006-07-25 19:24:26 · answer #2 · answered by fatalleycat41 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. Places of worship do not make any money...everything that is collected goes to rebuilding communities all over the world. They would not be able to exist if they had to pay property taxes. Instead, they support our country in other ways, like raising money for hurricane victims, or for a senior home, or for struggling families, etc.
2006-07-25 19:22:42 · answer #3 · answered by ladyladance 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No! There has been several mentions of the wall between church and state. This wall is why churches don't pay property taxes. For that privilege, they are not to get involved in politics. The rules for this are clearly written and any church that violates them should lose their non-profit status forever!
2006-07-25 19:59:48 · answer #4 · answered by ggarsk 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, but then again I don't think I should have to pay property tax, or income tax, or estate tax. Come to think of it, I only ever want to pay sales tax. Why should anyone have to pay taxes on property they already own. And why should I have to pay taxes for the privilege of working or dying? That is stupid. Income taxes weren't even allowed under the Constitution originally. It took an Amendment for that debacle to get enacted.
2006-07-25 18:19:12 · answer #5 · answered by Gwen 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Charitable and non-profit agencies, churches, public libraries, community halls, and schools should not pay property taxes because other taxes as well as property taxes help to pay to build them. That would be redundant.
2006-07-25 18:19:22 · answer #6 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some would have to go out of business for the taxes.
2006-07-25 18:17:48 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes
2006-07-25 18:17:30 · answer #8 · answered by Miss. Bliss 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
churches and other places of worship are not -for -profit entities and as such have tax exempt status. and have to fill out extensive paperwork to prove themselves so.
2006-07-25 18:20:49 · answer #9 · answered by blkrose65 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, its a "business" and someone is recieving an income off of it. It should be taxable
2006-07-25 18:19:39 · answer #10 · answered by sea_sher 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋