"But churches hire people, and they don't pay payroll taxes on the people they hire either." Riginslinger

Wbat MMarion said. It's not even a good guess.

I agree with the tax-exempt(ness) of churches- and I don't care if it's a church or a synagogue or a mosque. The congregations, as Susan said, already pay taxes. Many of the people give financial support to the limits of their means.

If the church building that burnt down last year and where I work part time had not received the thousands of dollars donated for rebuilding it would not be able to re-open its doors. It had insurance - good insurance - but it does not come close to the loss it incurred or the replacement costs. Not only was there a church building but there was also a community hall attached where events ranging from live theatre to dinners to concerts and slide shows took place and it hosted two groups of AA (English and Spanish), Weight Watchers, prayer groups, a quilting group, a thrift shop, a food bank - and probably some others that I forget at the moment.

My point is, tax exempt as it was, it was a community resource.

Bequests and prime real estate locations help tax exempt organizations survive. Most of them are not living very high on the hog.

Do you also object, Rigin-, to governmental buildings and organizations being tax exempt? Religion, having spiritual components and being legal, is as important to civilization's daily life as are governing bodies.

Life is complex and difficult.