If we have Separation of Church & State why are Houses of Worship exempt from paying taxes?

Question

Even the appearance of government sanctioned religion should be avoided. Why should free-thinkers, agnostics and the non-religious have to subsidize religious institutions they do not believe in?

We are told churches avoid paying taxes not because our government is supporting religion, but because they are non-profit. How can something the size and magnitude of say the Catholic Church whose net worth is in the billions, claim to be a non-profit?

At the very least, shouldn’t an organization guilty of the systematic raping of tens of thousands of our most innocent and vulnerable members of society be stripped of its non-profit status? “U.S. Bishop's National Review Board found that U.S. sex-abuse related costs totaled $573 million, with $219 million covered by insurance companies”. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_church#Sexual_abuse_cases). The $350 million punishment that came out of the Church's pocket really came out of all of our pockets.

What more does an organization have to do than be guilty of systematic multi-generational pedophilia before it loses its non-profit status?

Church tax exemption means that we all drop our money in the collection boxes,
whether we go to church or not and whether we are interested in the church or
not. It is systematic and complete robbery, from which none of us escapes.
— E. Haldeman-Julius

The churches can well afford to pay fair taxation. But supposing they couldn't. Would not that be a very significant evidence that the churches were not really wanted?
— E. Haldeman-Julius

I did not see why the schoolmaster should be taxed to support the priest, and not the priest the schoolmaster.
— Henry David Thoreau (1849)

Answer 1

Well said. Jesus told his followers, "you received freely, give freely'
Any church in the business of "selling" salvation will probably soon be taxed.
But the 1st answerer does also make a good point. Most churches are deeply involved in charity work. so if a church is to be taxed, then, just as a corporation receives a tax break for charitable contributions, so should every church.
As for any expenses tha Catholic Church incurred by their practice of covering up child abuse, why should every religion be punitively punished because of one or a few religious organizations?

Answer 2

What does pedophilia have to do with whether it's non-profit? Profit means money or assets.

The Catholic Church is not based here in the states. They have their own country, so we can't tax the church based on what they own in their own country. If that were true, then we'd have to charge China tax based upon their net worth too.

The fact is, the churches here in the States support themselves; if their parishioners do not tithe, the church is closed down. Just like every other church. Any overage of the bills is spent on charity, just like every other non-profit organization.

The Catholic church has that much in assets because it's been around for 2000 years. The assets they have are not monetary but in priceless artifacts and the value of the Vatican.

Answer 3

In our great country, there is much good done by people of faith. Many groups such as the Lions Club, Kiwanis, Masons, Knights of Columbus do a lot of good works. They are all not for profit and they all enjoy the tax exempt status. Preachers pay taxes to support the school teacher. Contrary to what your quote states.

Answer 4

Because of the Separation of Church in state. The constitution forbids government interference in religion - including getting it's greedy hand into charitable donations made to the church. You got a problem with that I suggest you move to another country.

Answer 5

The catholics and baptists are second to the red cross in charity work. You're just projecting the greed in your own heart.

Answer 6

Why should my taxes go towards abortion if I believe it to be murder?