| json_metadata | "{"appParentPermlink":"fkrb638kq","musingAppId":"aU2p3C3a8N","appTags":["governance"],"appDepth":2,"appBody":"<p>I'm not in favor of any kind of taxation, really, so no, I don't feel churches should be taxed.<\/p>\n<p>Churches usually have some form of a non-profit status because they receive donations from their members and but don't really have a product to sell. Obviously, there are some churches where church leadership receives a large amount of money to do whatever it is they do, but there are also churches were very little goes in support of clergy. Regardless, I believe it's up to the membership to determine what might be considered excessive, and either put limits on what can be earned or spent, or decide to stop giving to the church.<\/p>\n<p>There are plenty of non-profit organizations, like the Salvation Army, St. Vincent de Paul, and others, who have paid employees, and actually sell used items that they have donated to them. A church might receive in kind donations, but mostly, it's money in form of tithes, offerings, or some other monetary contribution. Should the thrift stores pay taxes too? How about homeless shelters (the ones that might not receive government funding), or food bank, and animal shelters? I think the door gets opened for lawsuits based on discrimination if some organizations are taxed and others aren't.<\/p>\n<p>There are a lot of smaller church congregations that would probably need to shutter their doors if they were taxed, simply because they're only able to remain a church because they're not taxed. In other words, they use every penny they receive to provide whatever services they do.<\/p>","appCategory":"governance","app":"musing\/1.1","appParentAuthor":"stallonmoney","musingPostType":"answer","appTitle":"Should churches be taxed by government?","musingAppVersion":"1.1"}" |
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