Back when people still had brains, they gave the Churches tax-free status to help them go about their business of feeding and housing the poor so that government wouldn't have to burdon the taxpayers with this massive expense. Government also recognized that religion was necessary to the morality, honesty and decency of its people, and was a strong ally of government's own laws. But that was back before the government and the Courts began instituting evil "laws" like abortion on demand, homosexual marriage, pornographer's "rights" and thought crimes, ('hate' crimes). It was back when government respected peoples' rights and didn't see itself as a seperate entity from the people; and back when brains and reason still reigned over idiocy and insanity.
This "massive expense" is no proper business of government.