” Keep in mind that it is not only taxes on income that the churches would pay, but property taxes. Many churches sit on what is extremely valuable land; it may have been cheap when the church was built decades ago, but it’s prime real estate today.
If the churches are forced to pay taxes, something will have to be cut and these cuts will directly impact the members of the congregation.
Finally, there are the donations themselves. Obviously Christians are supposed to tithe graciously, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t take the tax deduction into account.
Basically, this would create a ripple effect that will really harm many churches. They will be faced with a huge increase in expenditures due to taxes and they will have a drop in revenue due to loss of deductions, it will cripple them. “
Read every word of this carefully FReepers.
I posted yesterday that the left is drooling over the possibility of bankrupting most churches, either through new law, or phony sex discrimination litigation.
One more thing. Most small churches are supported by one or two well heeled members. If the tax deduction is eliminated, many of these benefactors will cut their donations by as much as half.
And sales tax. Don’t forget sales tax.
Most Catholic churches have their own schools and if they would have to pay property taxes this could force them to close.