[Gamecock]

To believe that the IRS will be fair, just, and impartial with religious institutions that may oppose the policies of its controlling executive requires belief in several prior propositions: that the federal bureaucracy is by nature fair, just, and impartial; that the power of taxation tends toward an equitable effect; that power-holding elites in Washington DC, are primarily interested in the common good; that there is a pervasive and in aggregate overriding adherence to constitutional order in the federal workforce; that political appointees who helm federal agencies owe their first allegiance to the people; that malicious application of federal law and regulation is uncommon; that public servants in general are intelligent and principled stewards of a liberal society; that preservation of a liberal society is a primary goal of the federal apparatus. All these propositions are false.

[Pearls Before Swine]

The left would have political contributions deductible, but not religious contributions. And, within the political sphere, they would differentially make it more difficult for political contributions to causes they disapprove of.

I got it.

[allendale]

In Europe the state financially “supported” the churches. They essentially were controlled, shackled and withered. Their dynamism and witness evaporated. This worked so well for the Left in Europe, it frustrates them that they can only use tax exemptions here to do the same.

[Mom MD]

I think its worse than that. The leftists want to ban orthodox Christianity (and orthodox Judiasm) but are fine with any of the other religions. Islam is celebrated in the public square. Liberal apostate churches that approve of all manners of depravity and evil are also welcome. Its just those pesky people who cling to what the Bible actually says and are 2000 years out of step with modern society.....

[griswold3]

‘where there are no churches and no charities but those the state deems fit to exist ‘-
There was a place like that with fenced borders to keep the people IN.

’ Government is not reason, it is not eloquence — it is force’.- George Washington

[HLPhat]

How exactly does undermining the 1st amendment with a tax exemption edify the Body of Christ?

Render to Caesar what is his and share The Word — all of it.

[RayChuang88]

Something like that would require a Constitutional Amendment. Given how hard it is to pass a Constitutional Amendment, what the Left wants to do won’t happen anytime soon (not only has to pass through Congress, but 38 out of 50 state legislatures have to pass it, too). That’s why the proposed Equal Rights Amendment from many years ago didn’t come anywhere close to passing.

[metmom]

Writing at the website of Time magazine, New York Times columnist Mark Oppenheimer called for abolishing the tax exemptions for nonprofits and instead turning over those funds to government to spend in the interests of the community. “We’d have fewer church soup kitchens — but countries that truly care about poverty don’t rely on churches to run soup kitchens”, he rationalizes. Take that, Salvation Army.

There's nothing the government can't screw up once it gets its hands on it.

It's not the government's business to *take care of the poor*. That's a mandate from Jesus to believers.

[piasa]

Just got polled by a number identifying as “voter research” on my caller ID last night in FL - no requests for money- and the tax exemption for churches was what they asked about, then the planned parenthood bodyparts thing.

They also asked about the Iran deal.

All of the questions were asked after asking for my party affiliation, so I don’t know if the questions were different for libs or not.

[Dilbert San Diego]

Writing at the website of Time magazine, New York Times columnist Mark Oppenheimer called for abolishing the tax exemptions for nonprofits and instead turning over those funds to government to spend in the interests of the community.

---

What funds is he talking about? suppose donations dry up when the tax exemptions are done away with???? Maybe there would not be any funds for him to confiscate???

[Apple Pan Dowdy]

"This step, which would crush the budgets of many churches and non-profits....."

In that case, the truly "Christian" churches will adjust their budgets to make do. There is a lot of fluff that churches can do without:

• Could do without the elaborate staging of strobe lights, smoke, music amps, special effects, video screens.... and go back to a simple choir.
• Could forgo the fancy printed material that is distributed.
• They could disperse their people into small congregations that meet weekly in homes, restaurants, and other free locations. Then all the small congregations meet once a month for a larger worship time–in an economical rented public space. Mega church's huge buildings and their maintenance consume more than half of the budget.
• They may have to lower the salaries to the pastoral staff, and their pastor may have to give up the luxury car, diamond jewelry, fancy mansion, and excessive life style.

In the end, all of this financial pressure may just lead to a healthier, true-to-mission church.