Religion Speaking of closing loopholes: Religious Tax Exemptions cost US $71,000,000,000

healthpellets · 06-18-2012, 06:42 PM

That's an estimated $71B every year that could be used on all sorts of fun things like healthcare, teacher salaries, roads, etc.

Has the time come to reexamine the necessity of religious tax exemptions?

The original study: http://www.secularhumanism.org/index...ge=cragun_32_4

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendl...s-71000000000/

Quote:

We know churches get tax exemptions, but how much money does that actually come out to?

University of Tampa professor Ryan T. Cragun along with students Stephanie Yeager and Desmond Vega ran some calculations and figured out a number:

Quote:

While some people may be bothered by the fact that there are pastors who live in multimillion dollar homes, this is old news to most. But here is what should bother you about these expensive homes: You are helping to pay for them! You pay for them indirectly, the same way local, state, and federal governments in the United States subsidize religion — to the tune of about $71 billion every year.

So… chump change.

Their article (with a defense of how they calculated the amount) appears in the June/July 2012 issue of Free Inquiry.

Quote:

“The issue of religious tax preferment is especially relevant now because the number of Americans living outside any religious tradition continues to grow,” said Tom Flynn, Free Inquiry’s editor. “That underscores the unfairness of taxing all Americans to subsidize religious institutions that only some Americans utilize.”

The researchers already know what they’ll get criticized for:

Quote:

… before we get into our calculations, we think it best to address a criticism that is likely to be raised about this article. By suggesting that these groups should pay taxes, we are likely to be criticized by those who think that religions are largely charitable institutions engaged in beneficial service or charitable work and should therefore be exempt from taxes.

Cue reporter Kimberly Winston‘s article in which she interviews a critic of this finding:

Quote:

… Mark Rienzi, senior counsel at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, said that Americans have made a democratic decision that religious institutions are good for our communities — believers and atheists alike.

“Whether it is the Quakers opposing slavery, Reverend King arguing for equality, or a Catholic soup kitchen feeding and sheltering all in need,” Rienzi said, “our history is full of examples confirming the great public benefit of our religious diversity.”

Right… because church leaders never use the pulpit to oppose civil rights for gay Americans, or speak out against affordable/accessible health-care for women, or use the extra money to buy themselves a larger house because Jesus wants them to be prosperous…

The researchers also ran a few other calculations:

Quote:

States bypass an estimated $26.2 billion per year by not requiring religious institutions to pay property taxes.

Capital gains tax exemptions for religious institutions may be as much as $41 million a year.

U.S. clergy may claim as much as $1.2 billion in tax exemptions annually via the parsonage allowance.

Given the current political scene, none of this is going to change anytime soon. Religious groups have far too much power in Washington and they’re not about to ask the government to remove their special privileges. But we can keep the pressure on.

Even if these calculations are proven to be off, the principle isn’t going to change: Religion is a business, churches get tax breaks they don’t really deserve, and we’d all be better off if they paid their fair share.

Buzz_TinBalls · 06-18-2012, 06:46 PM

They got americans singing the chorus lines now. Good for them.

Taco John · 06-18-2012, 06:49 PM

A tax exemption doesn't cost anything.

Unless, of course, you count the money that is being exempted as the inherent property of the US Government - which is insane.

healthpellets · 06-18-2012, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taco John

A tax exemption doesn't cost anything.

Unless, of course, you count the money that is being exempted as the inherent property of the US Government - which is insane.

Let's think of it this way: Why should they be entitled to keeping all of their money, but not the rest of us? Their should be an equal playing field. So, either tax everyone, or tax no one.

While you might favor taxing no one, i think we both know that taxing everyone is a much more realistic alternative than taxing no one.

cosmo20002 · 06-18-2012, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by healthpellets

Has the time come to reexamine the necessity of religious tax exemptions?

That time passed many years ago, but better late than never.

**AustinChief** · 06-18-2012, 07:31 PM

You'll have to get rid of tax exemptions for charities then as well. I'd have no problem with that as long as the changes were consistent.

Garcia Bronco · 06-18-2012, 07:33 PM

Most churches are charities. So if you want kill that...go ahead.

Chiefshrink · 06-18-2012, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taco John

A tax exemption doesn't cost anything.

Unless, of course, you count the money that is being exempted as the inherent property of the US Government - which is insane.

Precisely !

Cost who? Oh, Uncle Obama ! Screw him !

blaise · 06-18-2012, 07:35 PM

Yeah, how dare those churches use money for poor people. Let's get at that money they're all using to live in luxurious homes.

blaise · 06-18-2012, 07:38 PM

The portrayal that church donations are used so pastors can all live high on the hog is laughable. This isn't motivated by some desire for economic fairness. This is just anti-church.

Chiefshrink · 06-18-2012, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by healthpellets

Let's think of it this way: Why should they be entitled to keeping all of their money, but not the rest of us? Their should be an equal playing field. So, either tax everyone, or tax no one.

While you might favor taxing no one, i think we both know that taxing everyone is a much more realistic alternative than taxing no one.

Oh the slippery slope to Marxism and serfdom for the people. Seriously, you don't realize how much most of these charities help people. You take that away you only make the beast/Fed Govt bigger and people more dependent and will get far less help in the short and long runs from the Fed making it even worse.

jspchief · 06-18-2012, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blaise

Yeah, how dare those churches use money for poor people. Let's get at that money they're all using to live in luxurious homes.

Yeah they just ship it all off to poor people.

Chiefshrink · 06-18-2012, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blaise

The portrayal that church donations are used so pastors can all live high on the hog is laughable. This isn't motivated by some desire for economic fairness. This is just anti-church.

BINGO !!

**morphius** · 06-18-2012, 07:42 PM

Sounds like a great way to keep even more help from getting to the poor.

jspchief · 06-18-2012, 07:42 PM

BTW isn't this why hospitals affiliate with churches?

06-18-2012, 06:46 PM	#2
Buzz_TinBalls So Busted Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: kcmo Casino cash: $10997559	They got americans singing the chorus lines now. Good for them. __________________ so much fail
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06-18-2012, 06:49 PM	#3
Taco John 12on Paul Join Date: Jun 2001 Casino cash: $10084517	A tax exemption doesn't cost anything. Unless, of course, you count the money that is being exempted as the inherent property of the US Government - which is insane. __________________ Ehyeh asher ehyeh.
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06-18-2012, 07:31 PM	#6
AustinChief Administrator Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Austin Casino cash: $1673731	You'll have to get rid of tax exemptions for charities then as well. I'd have no problem with that as long as the changes were consistent.
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06-18-2012, 07:33 PM	#7
Garcia Bronco No Keys, No Problem Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Denver Casino cash: $59533	Most churches are charities. So if you want kill that...go ahead.
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06-18-2012, 07:35 PM	#9
blaise MVP Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Plano, TX Casino cash: $217	Yeah, how dare those churches use money for poor people. Let's get at that money they're all using to live in luxurious homes.
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06-18-2012, 07:38 PM	#10
blaise MVP Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Plano, TX Casino cash: $217	The portrayal that church donations are used so pastors can all live high on the hog is laughable. This isn't motivated by some desire for economic fairness. This is just anti-church.
Posts: 16,706

06-18-2012, 07:42 PM	#14
morphius World's finest morphius Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $200014	Sounds like a great way to keep even more help from getting to the poor. __________________ Herm Edwards neutering offenses one QB at a time.
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06-18-2012, 07:42 PM	#15
jspchief BAMF Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Your Face Casino cash: $41656	BTW isn't this why hospitals affiliate with churches? __________________ Courage is not the absence of fear but rather the judgment that something is more important than fear. The brave may not live forever but the cautious do not live at all.
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