Taxing the Givers
They say numbers don’t lie. So here it is: $1.2 trillion dollars are contributed annually to our US economy by religious folks.
The money supports programs aimed at the hurting, helpless,
hungry, and the people that support them.
Google, Apple, Microsoft, and the
other top tech companies don’t put as much money into our economy.
When the idea is tossed
around that churches need to be taxed, it’s important to look at the real
dollars churches provide to our nation.
People are giving money away to help those in need. Churches provide their
buildings for childcare centers, soup kitchens, job training, free clothing
outlets, and medical clinics.
That’s in addition to the direct dollars spent on the poor.
That’s in addition to the direct dollars spent on the poor.
Besides money, churches coordinate 7.5 million volunteers in 1.5 million social programs aimed at helping those who need it most. In the past 15 years, religious giving to the needy has tripled.
While taxing churches could
bring in money, it will only impact the amount they already give away.
One
needs to ask how well the government would manage those tax dollars.
This much
is certain: with $1.2 trillion being offered through religious groups each year, it reveals the
generous hearts of millions of people.
They aren’t giving because they’re
required to, they are giving because they want to.