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Not unless they want their hands tied, just like now.

We all know that there are going to be people who take advantage of the law. That’s no reason to tax the bejesus out of the small farm church, that want to use there money to serve the people, such as feeding the needy.

Besides, if natives (in Canada) are tax exempt then all Canadians should be tax exempt.

I have long held the belief that there should be no exemptions to income taxes, and that income taxes should never exceed 10%.

Just my not-so-humble opinion. B)

Yes they should be tax exempt. The government should not be taking money from religious institutions to fund itself.

You said it there!

no they should not be exempt …not unless my made up religion of mistyism can be!

Absolutely they should be taxed! What honest reason is there for them not to be taxed? They use that money to help their parishoners?!? No they don't! Small farm chruches shouldn't be taxed? Why not? When Farmer Brown's crpos die the church doesn't help him replant. Even if he has been a good ole christian and tithed his 10% to the church, they aren't cutting him a check for seed, or animal feed, or vet bills…. He has to take out a loan against his house and farm to continue working the soil… so he can afford to give 10% of that to the church also. Noone is saying not to give to the church, but the church isn't giving any of that cash back, so yes, they absolutely should be taxed.

Ok, my use of the word “farm” was to picture a poor dirt town. And yes, churches do help those in need, what do you think they do with there money. You honestly think that every pastor is secretly sneaking his share of tax-free cash. NO absolutely not. Churches feed and shelter homeless, people, volunteer to go to 3rd world countries to help out. Anyways if farmer brown wants to give 10% that’s his choice, nobodys making him do so, it’s because he personally feels that helping the less fortunate is the right thing to do.

I agree that helping the homeless is the right thing to do, but in all honesty I've never seen a single church do it. Sure they have canned food drives and blood drives. I've even seen a few having holiday dinners for the poor and homeless but thats not the point I was making. Where is the help for the parishioners. Lets leave Farmer Brown aside since I took your example to an extreme and work with say, Long Island NY where the strong eat the weak regularly. If I lose my job and can no longer afford the mortgage I worked hard to get where or when is the church going to help me with that? Are they repaying some of my tithe? Are they giving any of that canned food to me? Roundabout explaination? yes, but! There are plenty of government assistance programs to help me with my lost job, and not just welfare or unemployment. In America, the church is as much a business as a religious institution. If they paid taxes on their gains there is no reason they couldn't continue their "help" of the less fortunate and pay a bit back to help the country that allows them the freedom to have that house of Worship. I don't want them taxed into oblivion (haha) but I would like to see them carry a bit more of their share of the monetary burden!

I understand, but the thing is that most churches only barely bring in enough as it is, let alone pay taxes. Churches seem to be more than a charity thatn a business, because a business’ sole purpose is to make money, while a chairties (the church) sole purpose is to help everyone they can, in a variety of ways.

To answer your question realistically, farmer Brown would have too much pride to ask for his money back, would you demand your donation for cancer research back, likely not. However if you are on Long Island, NY and you lose your job you SHOULD (most churches do help those in their own congregation) be assisted by your church family.

Some very valid points there agreed! But as I said I'm not looking to bankrupt every/any church. Obviously a church on Long Island probably brings in alot more donation money than one in say Small Farm, Wisconsin (just an example). As a for-instance, my church advertises its donation amounts in the weekly missal, showing what it took in last week, versus what it took in on that week the previous year. Each week it posts donation of well over $25,000, and this is just a regular non-holiday mass. So from my point of view couldn't my church pay some taxes? Wouldn't it be one of the greatest gifts it could give it's congregation? The long result is that with so many churches in Nassau county Long Island paying property taxes on their land couldn't that theoretically lower my taxes? A re-assesment would allow for the government of NY to gain extra funds and reduce budget deficits and the LI churches wouldn't feel much punch. The ideas works on a smaller scale like Small Farm, Wisconsin also. Smaller commnunity, less over-all property tax, but a benefit to the congregation none the less. My point I think really is, "just why shouldn't they pay some taxes?"

But it's ok to take money from private citizens? Religion is given a free pass all too often, and in this instance, they make so much money its absurd. By allowing them to skirt taxes the government is essentially promoting religion, which is forbidden by the constitution.

Are you serious? What do they do with the money? They keep it! A very tiny percentage of their coffers go back to the poor, or even the parishoners who donated it. Any idea how those monstrous megachurches in the middle of the country sprout up out of nowhere? If the goverment is allowed to–and they should be–tax my earnings why can't they tax the church's earnings? Churches sell a product. They should be taxed!

the government should not be propping up religious institutions. it is very clear in the constituion. If a church can't stay afloat it shouldn't exist. Done. Religion does not get any special dispensation for its opporating costs. Just because you believe doesn't mean i have to pay for your belief!

It's not even a matter of taking money from religions to "fund" itself. Taxes are levied on citizens of the country to defray the costs of police, firemen, legislative officials, public beautification, waste managment yada yada yada. To say that here is a huge piece of land, which is inhabited by citizens of the USA (priests are citizens as well as religious representatives) and that they are tax exempt because the product they sell is intangible is ridiculous. They perform a service which gives you peace and calm and they take a donation for it. There is a definite profit there, in one form or another it is a business, it has budgets, it has needs, and it serves a product in both mass and service to the poor, and its congregation. Business' should be taxed. Theres a huge financial burden in this country the church can easily be helping with.

Very good definition of charity versus business, but charities pay taxes also. Christian Charities Adoption service pays taxes on the money they collect for adoption fees. The American Heart and Lung Association pays taxes. Making Strides for breast cancer research pays taxes. None of those organizations are tax exempt, they have an overall tax exempt status under tax statute 501c but they still pay UBIT and FICA taxes. Only in the church do we pass a blind eye to what they take in, versus how much they pay back. Even Indian Gaming Casinos pay a small percentage of tax back to the US government.

Yes, Pt447, there are definetley some churches that are solely bent on profits, and thats upsetting (ever heard of Benny Hinn). But I am not defending them, they are frauds and sometimes aren’t even religious. I am rather defending the churches that cannot afford to pay taxes, such as my own. I live in a small farm town, that doesn’t bring in much money and wishes to help those in need.

If your arguement is true that charities don’t pay taxes, perhaps you are right in that churches should be taxed. But why should charities be taxed then, why should the government make money off generousity. Sure that may be law but does that seem ethical to you?

I’m sure that charities also have budgets, and they have employees that need to make a living too. Also charities provide the “feel good” product, just like churches.

The economical situation is not from a lack of taxes (believe me) I could go into detail about where your taxes ACTUALLY go, but i fear, it may be long winded.

p.s. Lord Tiberivs do you have time to pop over to the how should schools handle evolution debate, I look forward to your answer to my question there.

I think I was over to one of them just this morning. I took a pretty strong stance on burden of proof or evolution versus creationism that will more than likely upset quite a few people. But I welcome your return comments!

Except the tax exempt status is for Federally accepted religions only. If any cult or even random person could start a religion and reap the benefits, then alot more people would be doing what your saying.

Name some of the all to often times religions are given a free pass in America. Please I would love to hear them. And no…the constitution does not forbid federal promotion of religion. That is a misinterpretation of the constitution, easily believed in todays growing atheistic value system.

Ya know I was studying the amendment that was claimed to have stated their be no federal promotion of religion and I saw nothing that indicated this. Thank you for bringing this to my attention Sandman767.

Have you ever heard of Scientology?

As long as a church is a non-profit organization, it should receive tax exemption. The second that a church collects a dime from anyone, it should be taxed.

Nothing is completely non-profit in this world.

sorry my comment should have read:

NO, they should not have tax-exempt status . All religious institutions should be taxed like any other business. I see far too many priests in my neighborhood driving around in a Mercedes all because of the countless 'gifts' they receive from their parishioners. If charity is the reasoning behind tax exemption, then ALL charities – including secular ones should be fully tax exempt.

As the lord Christ said “Give to Ceasar what is due to Ceasar” i think Ceasar refers to the government, whatever organisation there is, should pay what is due to the government which has jurisdiction over the organization’s existence.