Amendment for houses of worship

December 13, 2007
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State Sen. Pat Miller says sheâ??s looking to the future by proposing a constitutional amendment that would protect churches and other houses of worship from someday being taxed.

Itâ??s not a â??crisis today,â?? but could become a problem in the future given the concern over rising property taxes, the Indianapolis Republican says.

Supporters of tax exemptions for houses of worship, or any not-for-profit for that matter, say the good the organizations do for society more than compensates for the loss of tax revenue. The more not-for-profits can be encouraged, the better, they say.

Others say the groups should pay their fair share regardless of what they accomplish. Not-for-profits require the same streets and fire protection as everyone else, so why shouldnâ??t they contribute? goes the argument.

Whatâ??s your take? Should not-for-profits be taxed?

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  • KirkDecember 13, 2007 2:28 PM
    Pat Miller. Worry about today's crisis. There's no danger of anyone passing a law that requires churches to pay property taxes in Indiana. This sort of reverse strategy, politically induced, pray upon the ignorant, simple minded, politician's days are numbered. This stuff got attention and votes a few years ago but not anymore. I hope it back-fires on her.
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  • KevinDecember 13, 2007 10:41 PM
    Considering the efforts of the religious sect in this country to infiltrate government, i feel churches should be taxed. I am all for churches remaining tax-exempt should the churches decide to once again recognize the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. By the way, don't churches receive tax-payer dollars via the Bush administration's faith-based initiative?

    On a final note - In my opinion, the movement to mix religion and politics has done nothing but cheapen and commercialize religion
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  • KirkDecember 14, 2007 12:40 PM
    Bush's deal was just trying to secure Republican votes from religion. Their whole deal was trying to make it appear as if Democrats were anti-religion. When, in fact, the Bush guys are the least compasionate and most hypocritical. Here is Pat Miller's thinking...hmmm, if I can introduce legislation that would require a up or down vote on protection of Churches...and, the Democrats vote against it (obviously they would because there are already laws protecting Churches on the books and anyone with common sense would want to spend time on meaningful legislation instead of legislation that would simply be totally ineffective), then I would appear to be pro-church and get all the church vote. Ahhaa. I'm brilliant.
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  • sosDecember 14, 2007 8:45 PM
    All property except government property should be taxed or no property should be taxed.
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