- Question
Should churches pay taxes?
Church tax exemption is very much debated. Although several countries require church members to pay a tax, many consider churches as tax-exempt. In discussions related to this policy, a nation’s perception of religious freedom and the common good is pivotal. Does the tax-exempt status of churches protect or violate these values?
Yes, churches should pay taxes
This position holds that churches should pay taxes. It argues that their tax-exempt status actually threatens religious freedom and breeds injustice, that taxing them would reflect modern values, and that any church not genuinely serving the common good has no claim to exemption.
No, churches should not pay taxes
The tax-exempt status of churches protects religious freedom and the common good by making it easier for churches to survive and do positive work for their community.