Daily Archives: 12/07/2009

(Community Matters) A good friend makes a great point.  Why is the Catholic Church’s tax exempt status not being challenged given its increasingly political plays: 1) against specific legislation, 2) against specific candidates, 3) blocking LGBT equality, 4) against healtcare if includes reproductive rights.  It’s gone beyond philosophical prosthelytizing to grassroots organizing.

Given the increasingly active political role some churches/congregations want to play, I’m wondering if it isn’t time to do away with the charitable deduction for contributions to religious organizations?

Religious giving usually accounts for a third of total charitable giving, so this means $100 billion plus.  At a average tax rate of 20%, that would mean at least $20 billion in additional tax revenues – nothing to sneeze at.  Maybe an opt out provision – if an institution doesn’t want the right to participate politically as a organized body, its donors could continue deducting their contributions.

before people start yelling that I’m being anti-religious, religious giving accounts for the largest component of our annual charitable giving.  I am not bashing religion