Clergy tax break unconstitutional - That's 3 FFRF victories in 8 days!

[Freddie]

2. Can of worms

In the past most churches had a parsonage where the pastor and his/her family lived free of charge. Today many pastors would rather buy a house and they often get a housing allowance instead of parsonage housing. This is not taxed because the use of the parsonage was not taxed. I’m treasurer of my church and we have a parsonage but some years ago the pastor and his wife wanted to buy a house nearby so they would have a dwelling when he retired. We pay him $300/month housing allowance and lease the parsonage to a local non-profit that uses it for emergency housing for families in need. We make no $$ from this; the non-profit collects the rent, screens and supervises tenants and pays all upkeep and utilities from the rent. We are giving back to the community in this way instead of using the parsonage as a money-making rental.