How is the current set-up "religious freedom" if they are beholden to Uncle Sugar for the tax-exempt status?
Everyone who gets some sort of largess or "favor" from the government opens the door for the government to meddle in its affairs.
Actually, why wouldn’t they be subjected to government abuse if they WERE taxed? Seems to me a case for government meddling could be made for that case, too.
My understanding is that a church, generally, is a non-profit engaged in charitable work. A government taxing such an entity could be construed as violating freedom of religion.
Additionally, it seems to me the assumption that a government is doing us a favor by not taxing us fundamentally misunderstands the idea of natural rights and private property rights.