Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
Editorials & Other Articles
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Does anyone else think it's time to tax the churches? [View all]FreeState
(10,702 posts)12. I would not tax charitable organizations
that use over 90% of their revenue on actual services.
I do not see churches as non-profit organizations - they may offer services to their members or, like the the Church in the picture above, the wealthiest church in the USA, it gives less than 1% of a portion of its revenue to charities outside its own faith.
edit to add source:
http://www.businessweek.com/printer/articles/62364-how-the-mormons-make-money
According to an official church Welfare Services fact sheet, the church gave $1.3 billion in humanitarian aid in more than 178 countries and territories during the 25 years between 1985 and 2010. A fact sheet from the previous year indicates that less than one-third of the sum was monetary assistance, while the rest was in the form of material assistance. All in all, if one were to evenly distribute that $1.3 billion over a quarter-century, it would mean that the church gave $52 million annually. A study co-written by Cragun and recently published in Free Inquiry estimates that the Mormon Church donates only about 0.7 percent of its annual income to charity; the United Methodist Church gives about 29 percent.
Edit history
Please sign in to view edit histories.
Recommendations
0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):
171 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
RecommendedHighlight replies with 5 or more recommendations
Just imagine the Mormon money working for them. We may all have to wear their underwear!
SugarShack
Dec 2012
#131
There was a church in my area that spent $45 million on a new building this year.
Initech
Dec 2012
#4
Are you are saying that nonprofits with buildings under a certain size should be exempt from tax?
Freddie Stubbs
Dec 2012
#166
UNICEF is an part of the UN. They have a big fancy building sitting on prime real estate
Freddie Stubbs
Dec 2012
#169
Your idea would hurt a lot of nonprofits with no religious affiliation, it would actually kill kids
pediatricmedic
Dec 2012
#74
Yes we can pick and choose - when some are acting as lobbying arms rather than non-profits
TBF
Dec 2012
#123
"If a non-profit is violating its status then the IRS can revoke its non-profit status" -
TBF
Dec 2012
#163
The amount of abuse of tax-exempt status by churches AND other kinds of non-profits is staggering
slackmaster
Dec 2012
#33
I think it is past time to check ALL the non-profits to make sure they are what they say they are.
Frustratedlady
Dec 2012
#34
The tax exemption is not Constitutional. The government should not be funding religions. nm
rhett o rick
Dec 2012
#111
If they used their money to actually help the poor it would be one thing,
truebluegreen
Dec 2012
#56
Churches fall under 501(c)(3) along with certain other types of non-profit orgs
NYC Liberal
Dec 2012
#150
Yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes
Squinch
Dec 2012
#121
Separate church and state by not giving churches exceptional treatment under the law!
Coyotl
Dec 2012
#128
I think they should receive a tax exemption only to the extent they are doing charitable work
Major Nikon
Dec 2012
#146