Many of them are telling people how to vote and are pushing various agendas ie:abortion and gay marrage. I feel if they want to stay tax free they should stay out of politics.
2007-07-10 10:39:40 · 24 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I think the government would do more good with the money then the churches do.
2007-07-10 10:44:21 · update #1
I don't think it needs to be for the reasons you profess but these institution do use our public services. Sewer, water, roads, fire and police protection. Why should they get a free ride just because they are "non profit". I can tell you right now my house is NON PROFIT! I have to have outside work to support the thing. How much more non profit can it get? Still I pay taxes. Here in Utah we have one other problem (I know some other areas of the country are in these same shoes) The predominate religion teaches their member to have large families.. This impacts the schools that the church pays nothing to educate. I think setting up fair property taxes on churches would be a GREAT IDEA... Jim
2007-07-10 10:48:52 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely. If churches start being political organizations, then by all means they ought to be taxed. I agree 100%.
However, I cannot agree that the government will spend the money better than churches. It's the rare case where the government spends money effectively. Look at how money was spent following 9/11 with all kinds of funds going to to buy things that have no effect on national security. Look how money was spent following Katrina. No I can't agree that the government is a good group to give our money to.
2007-07-10 10:48:48 · answer #2 · answered by William D 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am actually doing a master's project on this issue. 501(c)3 tax exempt organizations (including churches) must abide by certain political activity restrictions to maintain their exemption. They can lobby to some extent and provide non-partisan educational materials regarding issues and candidates, but they cannot promote any one candidate or side of an issue. If you know of a church that is doing so, please report them to the IRS, as the IRS cannot investigate churches without a report from a third party.
The US government does not want to subsidize partisan politics (and tax exemption is considered a subsidy). Thus, these political restrictions are very important. If churches want to maintain their exemption, they must not partake in partisan politics.
2007-07-10 10:51:26 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
That depends.
If they advocate for a particular candidate, then yes, they should have their 501c3 exemption lifted. However, it is quite appropriate for a church to explain its position from a moral perspective on issues. They should not lose their status for this.
For example, with abortion, a pastor is well within his rights to say from the pulpit that according to that denominations belief system, that abortion is right or wrong. If the pastor goes the extra step and says "vote for so and so" that is the type of advocacy that should not be permitted and several churches have lost their tax exempt status because of that.
2007-07-10 10:46:20 · answer #4 · answered by Tim 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Im a Christian and I think so. And it's not because I am against giving to the church or anything but the main reason Churches are tax exempt is so it cannot tell the state what to do, and the state cannot tell the church what to do. But since they both tell eachother what to do... Tax the church... and make the govt pay tithes ;)
2007-07-10 10:44:48 · answer #5 · answered by impossble_dream 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree wholeheartedly....churches are called to do God's work...feed the hungry, give care to the poor, orphans and widows...if churches were doing what they were supposed to do...we wouldn't need as many governmental social programs, and our government could get back to defending our country, building roadways, etc....
but, churches are insisiting on being political machines...and if so, they should be taxed as any other political entity would be.
2007-07-10 10:45:54 · answer #6 · answered by G.C. 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Since when does defending the idea of human life violate the separation of Church and State? If it does, then I say (because the Church is for life) that the state is absolutely wrong for putting the Church in the position of having to defend the right to life.
2007-07-10 11:02:24 · answer #7 · answered by Midge 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If they openly come out and publicly embrace political ideology and lobby parishioners for certain candidates then yes they should be taxed. Then the tax money from that should go to needful charitable institutions.
2007-07-10 10:48:42 · answer #8 · answered by genaddt 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes and no.
Churches are non-profit orgs. Fact is if you tax them then you have to tax them all. I'm not willing to do that.
We have the right to not listen to them. The fact is Christians organize people to vote. If everyone else did the same we could give them a run for their money.
2007-07-10 10:43:42 · answer #9 · answered by ~Heathen Princess~ 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If they are active in the political process through lobbying or political activism, then I believe they should be taxed.
If the "separation of church and state" keeps the government from interfering with religion, it should also keep religion from interfering with government.
2007-07-10 10:44:05 · answer #10 · answered by Nandina (Bunny Slipper Goddess) 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋