Do you think it is fair for religions to have a tax free status?

Question

Has anyone ever heard about a study where someone has calculated how much money would be saved by the average tax paying citizen in America if religions had to pay their fair share? It seems like it would be a noticeable amount. A lot of this money goes to organizations I don’t agree with or support. I’m not against helping others. I’m against members of the clergy living lifestyles of the rich and famous on money that was intended for needier and deserving people. I’m also against paying for religions promoting their own agenda on my dime.

For those of you who think that just because they are a non-profit organization, they do deserve a tax exempt status; Would you support an Atheist organization that used your tax dollars to help supply birth control and food to people in third world countries?

Catholic Crusader – What’s an “irratent?” I don’t agree with their policies. I support organizations whose policies I do support. I don’t smoke pot, but I do support an individual’s right to do so. Asking me a question like that is as immature as me asking you how many times a priest molested you when you were ten years old.

Answer 1

I do not support the idea of tax-free religions. Any group that has property and requires the use of societies resources to protect that property ought to contribute equally to the tax fund.

I'm also willing to stretch the business rules a tad to include regulations for religion. I would simply ask for intervention from the law to require that religious advertising must not contain claims that cannot be supported by factual evidence.

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Answer 2

No, I don't think it's fair, because ultimately the IRS is the group that decides which religion is legitimate or not. If what you're paying taxes for disagrees with your religion, either try to get the laws changed or go move somewhere that doesn't do that. I really dislike the idea of people getting special accommodations because of whatever silly nonsense they choose to believe in.

I think some people need to get a better understanding of the term 'non-profit'. Just because their primary goal isn't to make money doesn't mean they don't make any profit. Just ask Benny Hinn - for the leader of a non-profit organization, he sure lives a pretty comfortable life.

Answer 3

The idea that ordinary people who are priest, nuns, rabbis, and any other person who says that they are above paying taxes because they "work for god" is ridiculous. what do they do with all that money. they help hide priest's that commit crimes, pay for solid gold crosses that to me is just hypocritical, and then they ask people for more money. I agree that nonprofit organizations should be tax free because they do try to help people other than themselves. but i work in a Jewish community where the Hasidics don't pay taxes and it just makes things harder for the honest hard working people that do. Most of are laws a based on Gods laws and he never said that any person is above them. People who help other people without asking for a price are more deserving of a break than others who say they should have one and just use it to only help themselves and others who don't need it at all. Using Gods name to get away with so many t things that they try to hide stands for the very things that i believe God is against. I believe in God but i am against the Church, temple, and any other organized religion that is doing the very thing that their God is against.

Answer 4

First off---Our tax $$$$ do pay for abortion via/ Planned
Parent hood, abortion clinics. And I don't agree on this, I
feel if some one wants an abortion they should pay for it them selves, As I don't believe in abortion, But if that choice is to
remain legal I would not be radical about it, Let it be between the person, doctor and their God. I think for all of us our tax $$
goes to many things we as a nation differ on.
I do believe the Salvation Army is one of the most respected
charitable org. there is. why would any one want to tax them.
They do not take our tax $$$$, they just don't pay tax!! Nice to
know some one does not have to pay tax, As a total all do
good for others and in the long run as a total, they take a burden from our tax $$$ by helping others. There is good and bad in every thing and every body, look for the good.

Answer 5

Anyone who says a church is a non-profit organization is far from being right. I agree that they should not be taxed on the tithes that they collect, but they should be taxed on any profit that they make from investments and interest earned. Many churches have alot of investments & property, and earn alot from bank interest. All that should be taxed.

Besides if a church goes up in your neighborhood, your property taxes will go up drastically to make up for the taxes that they don't pay. How is that fair?

Answer 6

through charitable businesses they run. Many church homes run shelters, nutrition pantries, outfits shops, and different centers for those in want, and are granted tax loose status to allow them to proceed. To the guy who pronounced they must be taxed for speaking approximately "political subject concerns"; faith is already prohibited from endorsing a particular candidate. to disclaim them the main suitable of loose speech on subject concerns that confront church coaching (eg: abortion, conflict, etc) is a violation of the U. S. shape.

Answer 7

the amount of help these churches give is laughable, i say tax them, and use that money to help the poor instead of them paying some idiot to read a bible to a brainwashed crowd they would just be paying for the church to stay afloat. you would save get alot of money when all those clergy start paying taxes which could actually be assured to help the poor.

Answer 8

no I say let them pay tax's just like every one else I pay plenty of tax's and they have more money then I do not to mention have you ever got in line behind them in a store it's a pain in the ***

Answer 9

No. Especially since they are starting to get into politics. I say tax them and make them pay the admission price just like the rest of us.

Answer 10

Churches, Mosques and Synagogues are Not For Profit organizations. Ministers are paid a salary, depending on the income of the church and a board decides what his salary will be. I can't tell you about the other religions. Individual church members do pay taxes.