Americans are leaving religion. Why are we still subsidizing it?

Washington Post ^ | September 14, 2015 | David Niose

[C19fan]

Why is this author only targeting the tax exempt status of churches. Why not every non-profit? A lot more Americans do not attend college than are non-religious yet colleges are also treated as tax exempt. American Humanist Association is also a tax exempt non-profit organization so should their $4 MM in annual contribution also b subject to tax?

[9YearLurker]

There should be no difference between taxation of nonprofit and for-profit organizations.

Likewise, there should be no difference in taxation between charitable donations and any gifts to anyone else.

[max americana]

hopeychangey isn’t a religion?

[fungoking]

I doubt those who want to tax churches will be willing to open their wallets to pay for the social services churches will have to cut back on to send $ to the government black hole.

[fwdude]

What is this idiot talking about? Churches ARE taxed. Every employee not a minister has taxes withheld from their check.

[Buckeye McFrog]

But then there’s that whole pesky First Amendment thing.

[Dilbert San Diego]

I think he means that churches do not pay income tax, and church properties are mostly exempt from property taxes.

Anyone else have better information?

[Mechanicos]

Pesky thing called the Constitution. Got this wording about making no law respecting an establishment of religion nor prohibit the free expression thereof. Churches are Establishments of religion, Tax is a law = Cannot mix the two.

[Ohioan]

There is an immense difference between subsidizing something, and not taxing it. Congress cannot tax religion under the First Amendment.

[Olog-hai]

There is a rather obvious reason for Niose’s antipathy towards Christianity.

[HarleyLady27]

I know what this article is all about, but I go to church to feel closer to God, not worry about non-profit this and non-profit that...that is ‘human’ things, I want to feel close to God, not so much of the ‘human’ b.s.

[Da Coyote]

Like flies to shi...er...liberalstuff, liberals flock to possible tax income.

Slime they are. Honest they are not.

[fwdude]

Taxing ministers in a church, those who are doing the church’s work, is synonymous with taxing the church. The church is the members.

Should the allowances we give our offspring be taxed because they do chores?

[DesertRhino]

That’s ass backwards. You aren’t “subsidizing” something because you don’t tax it. This is exactly the same thinking that calls government spending an “investment” and money collected at gunpoint “revenue”.

[Buckeye McFrog]

Here in PA only the church building used as worship space is tax exempt. Churches pay property tax on all other buildings (rectories, gymnasiums, social halls, etc.)

I’m sure if you add it up UPMC has a LOT more tax-exempt space in Allegheny County than the Catholic Church does.

[Dr. Sivana]

The power to tax is the power to destroy. The Soviet Union had churches, but they were heavily taxed, and subject to completely arbitrary and anti-religious regulation.

[Yashcheritsiy]

I don’t give to the United Way. Why should my tax dollars go to “subsidise” it?

/exact same logic

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

You got that right. Your comment caused me to “Google” him he is anti-Christian. I wonder if his antecedents were not Christian?

[M Kehoe]

The power to tax is the power to destroy.

Some smart person said that.

5.56mm

[DungeonMaster]

Taxed Enough Already!