09-24-2008, 04:02 PM
Wags wrote:
Why do churches get taxpayer subsidies anyhow?
Not that complicated, if you replace the word "church" with "non-profit organization". Should non-profit organizations be taxed the same way as for-profit organizations?
Maybe the issue is about how it's administered and regulated. Churches (like any other non-profit) are required to comply with strict regulations in order to qualify for their non-tax status. Some argue that these rules are rarely enforced in any meaningful way. Example: the moment a church official starts advocating a political candidate, policy, or preaching an overtly political point of view, its risking its tax-free status and should be held accountable. But this line has been blurred for a long time. Churches with activist political agendas on both sides of the spectrum abuse this privilege all the time.