Because religious institutions own billions in property for which they pay no tax. Which means the rest of us have to make up the difference. I would add they get police and fire protection, street cleaning and other public benefits they don't pay for.
Also, they tax their congregations and that money is then not spent on the economy. It's basically flushed down the toilet. Imagine how much money is donated to churches every year that could be put back into the economy. Not sure how accurate this website is, but they claim $50 billion a year. https://nonprofitssource.com/online-giving-statistics/church-giving/
I know at one point, my parents gave 10% of their income to their church. That's money that should have gone into their (non existent) retirement, or to help their kids with clothing, food, or preparing for college. Being an atheist/agnostic is kinda like a tax break on its own, I guess.
The very second they abuse their tax exempt status they need it revoked. That means no politics and they must truly be non-profit.
My church separates religion from politics. We are there to cleanse the soul not tell people how to vote. Secular things are excluded.
As it should be. Unfortunately that's not the trend in the political landscape with the attempts to strip away civil rights in favor of religious beliefs. Roe vs Wade
A little off-topic but is God sending/guiding the 3 wise men to Jesus his way of paying child support?
LOL Just snagged CB tix for November. Should be fantastic at the Schermerhorn with the Nashville Symphony..... Oh, and as mentioned in another thread, Chris has Portland/Oregon roots: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Botti Botti was born in Portland, Oregon and raised in Corvallis, although he also spent two years of his childhood in Italy.[4] His earliest musical influence was his mother, a classically trained pianist and part-time piano teacher.[5] He started playing the trumpet at nine years old, and committed to the instrument at age 12 when he heard Miles Davis play "My Funny Valentine".[6] In 1981, he was selected as a member of McDonald's All American High School Jazz band, which marked his first Carnegie Hall performance.[7] At the age of 17, he ended up at Mount Hood Community College in Gresham, Oregon, by convincing his high school to allow him to fulfill his remaining senior year credits there. Chris set his class schedule so that he could also play at Portland clubs in the evening. Mount Hood's program was headed by Larry McVey, whose band had come to be a proving ground and regular stop for Stan Kenton and Mel Tormé when they were looking for new players. It was here Botti played alongside his friend, trombonist and future Academy Award nominated filmmaker, Todd Field. After graduating from Crescent Valley High School, Chris studied under jazz educator David Baker and trumpet professor Bill Adam at the Indiana University School of Music.[8] Botti was also the recipient of two grants from the National Endowment for the Arts which allowed him to study with trumpeter Woody Shaw and saxophonist George Coleman during two consecutive summer breaks.
Churches should be taxed if they make over a certain amount of money, especially super churches and religious institutions that own billions in property.
