Should churches pay taxes?

The tax-exempt status of churches breeds injustice

Question: Should churches pay taxes?
Position1 of 2›: Yes, churches should pay taxes
Argument1 of 4›: The tax-exempt status of churches breeds injustice

All institutions, including religious ones, need to be held accountable for their finances.

The argument

Because churches enjoy tax-exempt status, they are generally not required to file tax returns. In this way, the government does not hold churches accountable for their finances. This lack of accountability can lead to unfair wages for church employees and dishonest use of donations. Since churches make a lucrative amount of money, they should be required to reassure everyone that they are using it properly.

Premises

[P1]Because churches are tax-exempt, they generally need not file tax returns, so the government does not hold their finances accountable. [P2] This lack of accountability can lead to unfair wages for employees and dishonest use of donations. [P3] Since churches make a lucrative amount of money, they should have to reassure everyone they are using it properly. [C] Therefore, because tax-exempt status breeds injustice, churches should pay taxes.

Counter-arguments

If churches are required to have government approval for their finances, the government could restrict their religious practice through forbidding financial decisions that they disapprove of.

Rejecting the premises

[Rejecting P3] Giving the government access to churches' finances may encourage government interference with freedom of religion.