[hinckley buzzard]

This is a phoney problem which would not exist if churches were not tax exempt. I don't believe that churches, and related religious entities, should be tax exempt to begin with. They want to have it both ways. But if they are going to benefit from special treatment they will have to dance to the piper's tune.

[truthingod]

I agree, maybe the churches should give up the status and preach the word! I am sure Paul would not have cared a hoot about tax stuff when compared with the need to see people’s lives changed with the gospel of Jesus.

[antceecee]

I disagree. Opening up the churches to inspection by the state for purposes of collecting tax allows the state to harass by audit.

Church and state are to be separate and the reason was for the state to stay out of the activities of the church, NOT for the purpose of the church to stay out of the activities of the state.

Libs have upended this basic tenet of our constitutional rights, we need to reestablish that true separation.

[luckystarmom]

I say let the churches pay taxes, then they can say what they want.

[TheBattman]

Funny how ACORN is not only tax exempt, but also receives Federal Funds, yet is EXTREMELY politically active... Criminally Active. Yet that doesn’t seem to cause a problem (except for those locals who have been busted for false voter registrations). But not a word about their very biased political activity...

The idea behind tax exempt status for churches is to specifically get the government out of religion. With the power to tax churches comes the power to control them.

But I fail to see why churches cannot (legally, and without government scrutiny) specifically line out the issues and compare candidates to the church’s doctrine and beliefs.

And let us not forget the Clinton campaign years - campaigning by invitation from African-American churches - with direct endorsements from those pastors... with not a single sound from the government about THOSE church’s and their tax exempt status...

[Irene Adler]

"They want to have it both ways."

Who else has to pay taxes to have free speech? Where is this requirement in the Constitution regarding the freedom of speech? Why should Pastors and Priests get muzzled because their employing institutions don't pay taxes? Again, where is this limitation on free speech in the Constitution?

[Canedawg]

that post is a good reality check.

[donna]

The Founders intended to restrain the federal government from taxing churches to preserve freedom of religion. Remember, the King of England was the head of the English church and he cut off peoples’ heads the cause.

The Founders never said that States were restrained form taxing churches if they wanted to.

Too bad our judges and courts and politicians have disregarded the Founders’ wisdom.