RELIGION ON THE RECORD: Feb 25, 2014: The power to tax is the power to destroy. The same Founders who were so afraid of governmental tyranny that they enshrined a right to own guns would not want a federal government who would raid the coffers of churches. There are many people who think it’s patently unfair that churches don’t pay taxes. They claim that churches should be taxed just like any other company. Local governments would salivate at getting property taxes from churches. And the federal government would certainly get more money by slapping large corporate taxes on all churches. But let’s be honest, our churches would immediately be brought to their knees if this happened. Americans, in general, are far too stingy with charitable giving to their church. I’m embarrassed to admit this but Catholics give close to 3 or 4% of their income — far shy of the tithe recommended to us by the Bible. Now imagine a floodgate of tax bills to these churches? You thought we had church closings before? And that’s presuming that churches are considered on an equal playing field with all ‘businesses.’ But don’t forget that the tax man has created special categories on the other end of the spectrum. Did you know for example, that actors were taxed at the highest marginal rate of 90% for several decades during the middle part of the 20th century? Imagine a tax code where churches are no longer shielded by the tax man and ambitious future politicians take Obama’s HHS mandate a step further. I shudder to think of what a President Andrew Cuomo might do.
So when you hear someone say: “We should repeal the tax-exempt status of churches!” we need to reply: “Why do you want the government to start taxing churches? Is it because our federal government does a great job with our money? Or is it because churches like St. Mary’s on the corner are so obviously flush with cash?”
In truth, churches don’t have a tax exempt ‘status.’ They have freedom. Let’s keep it that way. (SOURCE: Feb 25, 2014: Joshua Mercer: Catholic Vote: "Religious freedom is a constitutional right not a “tax exempt status")
So when you hear someone say: “We should repeal the tax-exempt status of churches!” we need to reply: “Why do you want the government to start taxing churches? Is it because our federal government does a great job with our money? Or is it because churches like St. Mary’s on the corner are so obviously flush with cash?”
In truth, churches don’t have a tax exempt ‘status.’ They have freedom. Let’s keep it that way. (SOURCE: Feb 25, 2014: Joshua Mercer: Catholic Vote: "Religious freedom is a constitutional right not a “tax exempt status")
