I know it’s not popular here but it’s time for these so called churches to start paying their “fair share” of taxes, IMHO. If you want to run with the big dogs, you’re going to have to pay.
as a practicing Catholic, i agree...
Churches paying taxes would probably not change the status of the faith group 501 (c) 3 status. It would only penalize the vast number of small parishes ( of other faiths) throughout the country which would probably close down.
As I Lutheran (missouri synod), I am royally PO’ed that we associate with LIRA and LSS which is generally run by the very liberal ELCA.
Look at the budgets of the two links, I would imagine every church based charity helping immigrants is funded mostly by the federal government which means the charity must follow the federal rules.
http://www.give.org/charity-reviews/national/human-services/lutheran-immigration-and-refugee-service-in-baltimore-md-2892
(scroll down and click financial
http://www.lsssd.org/
Click “click here for the LSS Annual Report”
These are government agendas are under the guise of religious charities. The churches do not contribute the vast amount of the budget. The government runs the show.
Currently the LIRS is running commercials pleading for Christian mercy and charity for the migrants.
So when a church does the government bidding political action is allowable, but be opposed and face IRS scrutiny and more.