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In reply to the discussion: Dolan: White House is "strangling" Catholic church [View all]Swede Atlanta
(3,596 posts)I have yet to understand why we allow religious institutions to avoid paying taxes whether on their income or on the value of their property.
Churches, synagogues, mosques, temples, etc. are businesses. They are in the business of promoting their religion and serving their members. I don't see how this is any different than any other business.
But much more than paying tax on their income is the missed revenue to local communities all over the country in the form of property taxes. Many of these religious institutions sit on prime, prime real estate that otherwise would generate probably billions in tax revenues. Take St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York. If that land were held by a regular business, New York would be raking in millions in tax revenue.
Time has come to treat these religious entities for what they are, businesses.
They employ people so they comply with the laws of the jurisdiction. If they don't want to comply with the laws then they can take their business elsewhere like say, Iran. Let's see how far they get there.