Some interesting developments...

[Veilex]

"The Freedom From Religion Foundation and its co-presidents Annie Laurie Gaylor and Dan Barker have won a significant ruling with far-reaching ramifications declaring unconstitutional the 1954 “parish exemption” uniquely benefiting “ministers of the gospel.” - See more at: http://ffrf.org/news/news-releases/item/19361-ffrf-gaylor-barker-overturn-‘parsonage-exemption’-clergy-privilege#sthash.mQE6Z04A.dpuf"

[Scuba]

1. Thank you Judge Barbara Crabbe, Wisconsin gem!

[Curmudgeoness]

2. Well, that is an excellent start.

Too bad that it will probably go no further, since so few have the intestinal fortitude to stand up to the churches and religion.

I do hope that I am wrong. Time is long past for the special status of religions to avoid taxes hurts so many.

[progressoid]

3. Yeah, I wonder how it will be enforced.

This will be interesting to watch unfold.

I expect a challenge. Supreme Court?

[Curmudgeoness]

4. It seems that to have it resolved,

it will have to make it's way to the Supreme Court. And yes, that will be interesting. It is far past time that the privilege of religion disappeared and the churches had to live by the same rules as every other business. Of course, if there is a charitable angle, free of the religious angle, that part of the enterprise could fall under charitable rules, although I have come to wonder about those exemptions as well since too many "charities" are just scams or are set up to do little help besides the operators.

[onager]

5. Thanks! And some interesting reading...

From - of all places - a Xian website, InPlainSite.

Happily, these people seem to hate televangelists even more than they hate us (atheists, that is - they only snipe at us with the usual cliches about non-believers).

They've done some amazing research, culling thru property records to find examples of that "parsonage exemption." Though apparently much of their data came from Sen. Grassley's investigation into televangelists a few years ago.

One example, about Kenneth Copeland and his EMIC/Trinity Foundation empire:

A review of the Tarrant County Appraisal District records indicates the following. An 18,280 square foot residence owned by EMIC was built in 1999. The house is situated on a lake on approximately 25 acres and receives tax-exempt status. As of tax year 2008, the property was valued at $6,249,000.

According to a third party informant, the "parsonage" has a sweeping spiral staircase and a bridge that spans across the living room and connects the two sides of the house. It also has crystal chandeliers and, according to Gloria Copeland, doors that came from a castle. The parsonage has numerous rooms including a work room where cleaning ladies did laundry, ironed and performed other miscellaneous chores...

Insiders indicated that all the expenses related to the upkeep of the parsonage are paid for by the Church, including the household staff. EMIC/KCM employees are used to maintain the property and perform miscellaneous duties such as arranging the Copelands exercise equipment, moving furniture and setting up the Christmas tree.

http://www.inplainsite.org/html/tele-evangelist_lifestyles.html