I don't get why some people here are so obsessed that 501(c) must be source of corruption.
Check this:
taxfoundation.org
So pastor pay both income and payroll (social security) taxes. They don't practically any other special benefit. And free housing isn't special. Regular people can use deduction for mortage.
And pastor can ask to be free from social security taxes which is irreversible decision where block him from using social security in future. Amish have same deal.
Any non-profit is free from property taxes and corporate income tax (tax on profit).
And first amendment is, in general sense, wonderful protection, same as for any other non-profit.
So I don't see any special deal that church gets for "being state servant". So, no special reason why would they be forcing state ideology.
If there is any reason, way more defensible would be corruption by Rockfeller money which made pastors push more progressivism and centralization which became standard population ideology which most pastors aren't willing to rock.
Check this:
![taxfoundation.org](https://files.taxfoundation.org/20210909174517/Church-taxes-tax-churches-what-if-we-taxed-churches-Taxthechurches-tax-treatment-of-churches-in-the-US.-If-taxes-paid-taxes.jpg)
What If We Taxed Churches?
“If churches paid taxes,” runs a popular claim on social media (hashtag #taxthechurches), “everyone would only have to pay 3 percent taxes.” Whether spurred by a belief that government is improperly favoring religious institutions, an antipathy to wealthy celebrity pastors, or a hope that taxing...
![taxfoundation.org](https://taxfoundation.org/wp-content/themes/taxfoundation/assets/img/favicon.png)
So pastor pay both income and payroll (social security) taxes. They don't practically any other special benefit. And free housing isn't special. Regular people can use deduction for mortage.
And pastor can ask to be free from social security taxes which is irreversible decision where block him from using social security in future. Amish have same deal.
Any non-profit is free from property taxes and corporate income tax (tax on profit).
And first amendment is, in general sense, wonderful protection, same as for any other non-profit.
So I don't see any special deal that church gets for "being state servant". So, no special reason why would they be forcing state ideology.
If there is any reason, way more defensible would be corruption by Rockfeller money which made pastors push more progressivism and centralization which became standard population ideology which most pastors aren't willing to rock.
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