I'm told that since churches don't pay taxes, they have no say in government?

Question

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=ArbTTTO.Rxkytzf1xgvfjqfsy6IX?qid=20070901024850AABJP4V

It doesn't seem to work that way these days. Have churches reneged on the deal?

Should churches whose leaders make political statements on their followers' behalf be stripped of tax-free status?

Is this all a bit too cozy, close-knit, facile and corrupt? Is it time for the secular state to scrap this fool's bargain?

Earl: Good for him! Dawkins must have been reading my Yahoo answers.

Answer 1

Ask the Post Office. MANY CHURCHES have lost their NPO mail authorization by placing "political ads" in bulletins or other materials mailed at Non Profit Organization rates.

This happens pretty frequently and is actively pursued by government inspectors. - Postal Inspectors can tell IRS inspectors of their findings in these cases. This can lead to "churches" losing their tax-exempt status generally...

IT DOES HAPPEN and some government employees work hard to see that it does when organizations abuse the privileges they enjoy. But this does not mean that ALL churches or organizations are involved in improper activity.

Answer 2

If they scrap the partial tax exempt status, what would this do for groups that feed the homeless, give free health care to the poor, Build homes for low income, send thousands of dollars to starving famine victims in Africa, provide free drugs to AIDS victims? Much of this charity work would dry up. Is that what you want? Don't forget that churches also provide much tax revenue. They buy furniture , carpet , etc. All produced or transported by tax paying workers.

Answer 3

A look at history books on 1st century Christians reveal they obeyed Jesus in that though they remained in subjection to the governmental "superior authorities", they were "no part of the world just as I am no part of the world." politically speaking. (1Peter 2:13-17; John 17:16) They neither sought public office nor served in the military after learning to follow Jesus. They viewed involvement in politics as "friendship with the world" as "enmity with God" (James 4:4)

By the 5th century however, false religion with its false teachers had entered and they could not wait to hop in bed with politics and have been there ever since.

Look at every political coronation, swearing in ceremony, or beginning of office term. Who do you always see right up in there? The clergy. They revel in the perks of money and power access gives them. Tax-exempt status is only one thing.

Answer 4

They are not supposed to be involved in government AS A CHURCH. The individual members, of course, including the leaders, have a right as citizens. But the organization, as a body, is not about politics, but about religion. They should not cross the line, just as government should not cross the line into their church.

Answer 5

Do you mean to tell me that only taxpayers have a say on government matters. What about the homeless? Don't they have a say too? Everyone has a right to be heard in a democratic society. Even a newborn baby is guaranteed those rights!

Answer 6

They need to be taxed, just like any other corporation. They may like us to think that they have no say in the government, but when you have very religious political leaders, it's bound to happen.

Answer 7

It's interesting to me when someone of apparent reasonable intelligence tries to mask an obvious prejudice, behind the guise of Constitutional encroachment..

Are you under the impression that only Religious organizations, are Tax exempt?
Because assuming you're speaking of U.S. Code (U.S.C. 26 § 501(c), this one's been on the books more than fifty years.
Exemption from tax for Corporations, and any community chest, fund, or foundation, organized and operated exclusively for:
religious, charitable, scientific, testing for public safety, literary, or educational purposes,
foster national or international amateur sports competition
Civic leagues or organizations
Labor, agricultural, or horticultural organizations.
Business leagues, chambers of commerce, real-estate boards, boards of trade,
professional football leagues
Clubs organized for pleasure, recreation, and other nonprofitable purposes
Fraternal beneficiary societies, orders, or associations
Voluntary employees’ beneficiary associations providing for the payment of life, sick, accident,
Teachers’ retirement fund
Cemetery companies owned and operated exclusively for the benefit of their members or which are not operated for profit;
(to name a few)

I'm confused exactly, what isn't working.
Who here is the fool, and corrupting who? Because it certainly isn't my little local Church as they put 80% of this Tax exempt income, back into the community. Clothing and feeding the homeless and elderly.
Bringing school supplies and hot lunches to families barely scraping by. Because it certainly isn't the Atheist Childrens fund.

It's misguided to believe tax breaks to the Non-Profits, affects your property value. Or the number of church exemptions affects how much you pay to get adequate aid from fire and police.

Being that you put this in R&S, and not Politics & Government, i assume this is more of a rant about the Church, and less about "taxes."
It's seems to be a common kvetch among nonTheist's and those who stand more to the left, to pull the ole' "get your Church out of my State" rhetoric, when the actual complaint is an illusion..
And its an apathetic misunderstanding that "separation of Church and state" is about keeping the Church OUT of our State.
Especially in regards to taxes, charters, governing and Despotism.

When those 41 men just about drowned on the the doomed Speedwell. Recovered. Gained and subLeased space on the Mayflower, it was done with one driving goal. Along with Sixteen hundred years of nightmares, fears and prayers, that one day, Christians.. All men, would be able to worship God, without fear of persecution, dare i say execution.

..and 167 years later, when 39 men signed the Constitution, they did so as if they had all "the Powers of the Earth", and that equal Station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God," had taken this course.
That "they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness"

Now this is NOT to say, that to be American, one must Worship God.
However, it IS and always will remain fact, that as long as there is a United States of America, we are ONE Nation, with the right of assembly TO worship God.

..and contrary to nonTheist opinions, that extends to our elected officials..

Answer 8

Religion is a business and should be taxed like every other business.

There's good money to be made from religion IF you can keep a straight face.

Answer 9

Churches have always had a say in politics because their members have votes. Why should they get additional votes to these? One man, one vote remember.

In the UK at least you CANNOT qualify for charitable status if you campaign politically, whatever you are (religion or not). Maybe the US could learn something.

Answer 10

Sure and let's also do it to Greenpeace, PETA, Save the Whales and hundreds of other tax exempt organization that lobby government or get members elected.

Oh, by the way Richard Dawkins is going to be joining them with his own tax exempt organization that will probably lease him a Mercedes Benz.