Charities are tax "exempt" because of the perceived good they do, or potentially do for the country's people, without which, much or all of that burden might be shifted to the taxpayer.
The preaching of Bible-believing churches (can't speak for liberal main line churches or denominations), and their training of young people especially, go a very long way to preventing . . . .
unwanted pregnancies and teen pregnancies; abortions; drug and alcohol abuse; spousal abuse; child abuse; indingency; joblessness; many other social problems that present huge costs to society.
If their were no churches, no private organizations to help curb these problems, the cost would end up being entirely on the back of the taxpayer.
Of course, that makes the liberals and progressives smile because that is exactly what they want . . . . government takeover and control of all such.
The liberals and progressives actually do believe that they know better than the remainder of us just how to solve these problems, and that centralized government is the answer to all ills.
The truth is that privately operated charities and churches are much more careful frugal, and efficient with money than government ever could or would be.
Too many priests and pastors are frightened of losing their tax-exempt status and let that control how they speak from the pulpit. I think it’s time to cut strings, pay taxes and speak freely about morals and how people should live their lives in this growingly Roman society.