why are churches exempt from paying taxes?

hah hah constitutional basis

Most churches in America have organized as "501c3 tax-exempt religious organizations." This is a fairly recent trend that has only been going on for about fifty years. Churches were only added to section 501c3 of the tax code in 1954. We can thank Sen. Lyndon B. Johnson for that. Johnson was no ally of the church. As part of his political agenda, Johnson had it in mind to silence the church and eliminate the significant influence the church had always had on shaping "public policy."

Although Johnson proffered this as a "favor" to churches, the favor also came with strings attached (more like shackles). One need not look far to see the devastating effects 501c3 acceptance has had to the church, and the consequent restrictions placed upon any 501c3 church. 501c3 churches are prohibited from addressing, in any tangible way, the vital issues of the day.

For a 501c3 church to openly speak out, or organize in opposition to, anything that the government declares "legal," even if it is immoral (e.g. abortion, homosexuality, etc.), that church will jeopardize its tax exempt status. The 501c3 has had a "chilling effect" upon the free speech rights of the church. LBJ was a shrewd and cunning politician who seemed to well-appreciate how easily many of the clergy would sell out.

if thats accurate i love lbj even more now

he killed kennedy!

http://www.saturday-night-live.com/images/weekendupdate/macdonald.gif
yeah, clinton killed a guy, you didnt hear about that?

http://atheism.about.com/library/decisions/tax/bldec_WalzTaxComm.htm?terms=cal

cunning but unfortunately naive enough to think ppl would actually try to enforce those 5013c rules against lobbying (just like congress was naive enough to think the FCC would enforce its own rules about broadcasters' obligations to the "public interest, convenience and necessity")

thanks don i never read about that before

I don't think it's not allowed to "speak out or organize" against things they oppose, just to specifically contribute money to specific political campaigns or issues. (Otherwise I think there would not be so many churches organizing protests and "prayer parades" near pride parades and stuff like that.) (xpost)

to maintain tax exempt status, you have to keep with your mission that has something to do with 'serving the public.' lobbying is allowed under nonprofit law, but there are limits to how much you can spend, and are technically not allowed to advocate for or against any candidate. if nonprofits were barred from lobbying, it would screw arts organizations (not that anyone's really concerned about the health of arts organizations!).

This weekend I saw Colbert speak about his pres run and he showed off his PAC sponsored by Doritos "snack pac" lolol

Let's talk about how we don't have to pay a tenth of our income to the Church anymore.

(Which was in the MIddle Ages in Europe.)

I'm paying about that much to the military

I wd tithe to this church:

http://www.jeffreysomers.com/images/2_2007_cover.jpg

I'm paying about that much to the military

You also had to pay to your "Lord" as well. (Not sure about the proper label.)

look ive been studying for my citizenship civics test so i can make this real simple for you:

seperation of church and state --> no taxation without representation --> god's house doesnt get taxed.

Helped Fred Phelps get an olympic-size swimming pool, this policy did.

Also why Mormon Church can brag it has "no/very little" overhead. They say temple propinquity leads to mad property value increases, but they also lead to floods of letters to the editor complaining justly of light pollution.

Because of the entirely laughable separation of church and state we supposedly have in the good ol' U.S. of A.

I know a couple people around my age who tithe (not traditionally, though - they don't give all to the church, but to church and outside charities). They do not have high incomes. It blows my mind.

It's been proven by research that lower income people are more generous, as far as giving to churches, individuals, charities, etc.

My parents never had much money. My mom never worked outside the home after I was born and my dad was an honest used car dealer. Yeah, I know. But he was. But they tithed a minimum of ten percent always, and after my dad died, I heard stories from several people about him slipping money into the hands or pockets or purses of people in need in the church, without saying a word.

It's the widow's mite, right?

xxxxxxxpost - that was probably the best Norm McDonnell moment ever. ("What? You guys know Clinton's a murder, right?")

mcdonald, rather

er wait, MACdonald? wtf is wrong with me