What is your take on tax exemption for religious institutions?

Question

"Money is a difficult issue with megachurch pastors", according to RACHEL ZOLL, AP Religion Writer Fri Nov 10, 2006.

As in any business, money of course is a prime issue.

Ms. Zoll points out how, in typical fashion for a number of mega businesses, Pastor Ted Haggard “started New Life in his
basement”, rose to the stars and did so by hustling the gullible. A tactic not unknown in the business world.

I point out the obvious that, like the leaders of Enron , Pastor Ted screwed his ‘stock holders’ ie., his congregation, by denigrating a supposed important attribute of what he preached, Moral Behavior. Never the less, he did sell them something else they craved, ENTERTAINMENT. Entertainment can be worth the price of admission and the business entertainment world strives to provide that.

If we look at New Hope megachurch as a purveyor of Sunday morning entertainment then Pastor Ted’s drug and sex behavior is
no different than what we too frequently see in the rest of the entertainment business world.

Pastor Ted technically should be able to have an image rehabilitated by church “spin artists” and the New Hope business
enterprise salvaged for what may well be what is sought by its entertainment seeking congregants.

A question though: Why, unlike Radio City Music Hall, does New Hope get to do its gig tax exempt?

Answer 1

I find it disturbing. There should be no special treatment for religious centers, and as long as they collect money, they should also have to pay taxes.