Time to remove tax exempt status from religious organizations!

What actually amazes me is that these church leaders think their congregations are so stupid/ignorant that they are incapable of making a decision by themselves. It is actually demeaning. If these church leaders have been doing their jobs and teaching their religious beliefs and values to the congregation all along - why do they feel that they are to stupid to make a political decision based on those same beliefs and values? In regard to your comment about the "minorities such as Islamic organizations": there are Christian organizations who are also preaching "violence and hate" against gays, Muslims, people who support abortion, etc., etc., etc. People have been terrorized and even killed at the hands of religious organizations who's leaders have taught them violence and hate from the pulpit. This has been going on for centuries.

Thanks for the BR. Here's the link to the Vatican paper I mentioned above. http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cclergy/documents/rc_con_cclergy_doc_15111998_rolep_en.html

Not only do they have huge complexes; but, many of them own hospitals, daycares, and other businesses which fall under their tax-exmpt umbrella even though they are run exactly the same as any other business. The heck with the audit - bring in the IRS and if they don't pay; freeze their accounts and seize their assets like any other business that doesn't pay.

uath, Recently I learned that that the definition of non-profit for tax exemption purposes is not the same as no surplus. The test of whether an institution is not-for-profit is what is is actually done to the accumulated surplus. If the accumulated surplus is distributed to some people on the basis of shares owned or some similar basis, then the institution fails. So a not-for-profit hospital like Mt. Sinai may charge the same rates as a hospital owned by the the Alexian Brothers (Chicago). Both may make a net profit of 35% on revenue. The difference between the two is that the 35% goes to the family of the Alexian brothers, so they pay taxes. Many of these institutions are set up as Foundations or Associations and as such become eligible within the tax laws of most countries (sic).

Personally, I agree with you; but, the law is the law and as long as they follow the law they are entitled to the exemption. IF, they want to take this all the way to the Supreme Court and try to get their involvement in politics authorized; then, they should be willing to pay the same taxes as any other business.

Income taxes are only a fraction of what they would be taxed on and it is the easiest one to get away with using "deductions and tax credits". What would really "hurt" them is all the property taxes they would now owe; and, you can't hide a multi-million dollar piece of property like you can a day's collections.

But, in the mean time their endorsing candidates from the pulpit could very well have an effect on the result of the elections which is only weeks away and getting the cases all the way up to the Supreme Court could take YEARS! (Actually, they plan to come out in support of MY candidate and I STILL think they are wrong to do this!)