Churches deserve tax-exempt status

 The letter “Time to tax churches” (3/29) displays secular logic at its worst. Can the writer cite supporting evidence of police, ambulance and firefighter services being required for churches in greater or even equal proportions than the demand for such services due to drug pushers and users, various and sundry criminals (e.g., spouse and child abusers, careless and reckless drivers, thieves and bank robbers, assaulters and murderers), and arsonists and careless smokers?

And how many of the latter-named elements are involved in volunteerism with food pantries, homeless shelters and other worthwhile charitable and relief endeavors?

Only when that evidence is forthcoming can credibility be given to such myopic views.

Gary Lair
Odessa, Mo.
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 Let’s just tax all charities and everything else you can think of.
 
If you tax churches, then they should stop giving food, clothes, gasoline and money for heating bills to people in need. Also, the pastors should stop visiting parishioners who are hospitalized or are homebound.
 
Why are so many people against God and churches?
 
Jeanne L. Albin
 Warsaw, Mo.

Comments

[NoMoreMrNiceGuy]

You mean crooks live REV. Al Sharpton? Wright? Surely they NEVER cheat on their taxes, beings they are so noble.

[ANGIE]

I don't think it's so much that people are against God and churches, it is about ministers, pastors getting rich off members monies. Living lavish lifetsyles, numerous homes, cars and yes big bank rolls. Greed is the bottom line. I know there are churches out there that do wonderful things for the needy, but this goes beyond the little community church. I also think since anybody can become a pastor or minister, they should be held to the highest standards and should have background cheks on all before they receive the all mighty title. How many times have we heard about molestation by these high and mighty ex cons and pedaphiles. Churches have become a facade by greed and lust. TAX THEM for sure

[NoMoreMrNiceGuy]

Now now now, only entities like ACORN, La Raza and the NAACP whousl be allowed tax exempt status. Every other caucasian and/or religious organization is racist and biased.
I find it funny how the goervnment is tax exempt.

[Stifled Freedom]

I could not disagree more with this letter. On the old days, churches were small wood shacks were people learned about God.

Today's mega-churches are multi-million dollar structures occupying acres of prime real estate. They have huge bank rolls. Times have changed. They need to pay taxes.

[Marctnts]

The "separation of church and state" reasoning behind tax-exempt status also works the other way as well. 501(c)3 organizations are allowed to endorse (or fight against) ISSUES for which they have a concern, but are specifically banned from doing the same for CANDIDATES.

[Marctnts]

Contrary to many peoples' erroneous belief, tax exempt status was not originally granted to churches as a "reward" for their charitable efforts, but rather as an expression of the concept of "separation of church and state". That is why churches aren't even granted a "special" exempt status, but rather classified as a 501(c)3 similar to many other non-religious organizations. This keeps government from being in a place to "judge" the status of a church as something other than a not-for-profit entity.

The qualifications for tax-exempt status that churches must adhere to are also kept as generic as possible to avoid any impression of the government judging the quality of a religion. For the most part, all a church needs to have to qualify are an ordained leadership structure, a regular congregation, and a regular place to meet.