So, if they are attempting to influence elections and fleecing people (well some are), why should they get to dodge taxes?

Why are these big buildings (megachurches) not paying big property taxes, since all those people use local services (roads, traffic control, fire protection, ect) and many likely live outside the areas that have to provide the services.

Why do crooks like Benny Hinn get to keep all their financial transaction secret in the name of "doing god's work" while living in $15,000,000 "parsonages" that they don't have to pay property tax on?

Why the FUCK is scientology even granted tax exempt status in this country when the rest of the world has been able to see through their bullshit?


I have no answers. I just think these are all good reasons to tax churches.

Thoughts?

Well, I think they should file taxes, but have a either a single huge deduction for being a religious institution, or better yet, a graduated tax system that doesn't start until the church's budget is very high, like a few million dollars.

That way, small churches would just file something saying, "We took in a few thousand dollars and paid our minister, see ya next year."

Medium sized churches would say, "we took in a million dollars and paid our staff and minister and gave him a house, and spent this much on social programs and this much on building maintenance, see ya next year."

And mega-churches would say, "We collected 6 million dollars and spent 1 million trying to get Satan elected and 500,000 trying to help the RIAA, and here is $100,000 in taxes."

And the REALLY fun places would say "We raised 280 million dollars, and spent 50 million on world wide televangelism, and 10 million on whores, and 5 million on drugs, and 15 million on private investigators to get dirt on our enemies, and 7 million on assassinations, and here is 10 million in taxes."

Posted by MutantMandias Well, I think they should file taxes, but have a either a single huge deduction for being a religious institution, or better yet, a graduated tax system that doesn't start until the church's budget is very high, like a few million dollars. That way, small churches would just file something saying, "We took in a few thousand dollars and paid our minister, see ya next year." Medium sized churches would say, "we took in a million dollars and paid our staff and minister and gave him a house, and spent this much on social programs and this much on building maintenance, see ya next year." And mega-churches would say, "We collected 6 million dollars and spent 1 million trying to get Satan elected and 500,000 trying to help the RIAA, and here is $100,000 in taxes." And the REALLY fun places would say "We raised 280 million dollars, and spent 50 million on world wide televangelism, and 10 million on whores, and 5 million on drugs, and 15 million on private investigators to get dirt on our enemies, and 7 million on assassinations, and here is 10 million in taxes."

That's the best fuckin' idea I ever heard. Samurai, give this man a blowjob!

Well, until I get ordained at least, even though I work for a church I have to pay taxes. I guess it's part of the whole separation of church and state thing, but I think the government ought to at least be able to say "Hey, church. Whadja do with all those contributions last year?" At the very least, the members should be able to say that. Keeps dudes like me honest.

Posted by MutantMandias or better yet, a graduated tax system that doesn't start until the church's budget is very high, like a few million dollars.

Not a bad idea, MutantMandias!!

Especially one's that pay (play) into politics.