Thread: Italy may start taxing the Vatican. Why shouldn't churches pay tax?

You know, I think that`s not about communists and religious people, not about Russians and Americans and not about separation of Church and State too. That`s about should church pay taxes or not. Let`s get more details on this issue. State - a structure which is over all other entities in a particular territory. So, why should not Church pay taxes? Is church the part of the State? No, as it stated in the Constitution (in Constitution of US, Russia and any other civilized country). As I think, there is the only one reason why Church should not pay taxes - because church is the voluntary organization. I mean they really can help many many people. They can help sick, homeless, orphans and many other people in need. BUT! I don`t exactly know how it looks in US or in UK for example, but in Russia Church is not only voluntary, social organization. It`s commercial organization too. I said it was even more commercial than social organization now. Any human coming to any church must pay for any ritual. So, who can answer me why Church should not pay taxes?

Originally Posted by vanburen07

As I think, there is the only one reason why Church should not pay taxes - because church is the voluntary organization. I mean they really can help many many people. They can help sick, homeless, orphans and many other people in need. BUT! I don`t exactly know how it looks in US or in UK for example, but in Russia Church is not only voluntary, social organization. It`s commercial organization too. I said it was even more commercial than social organization now. Any human coming to any church must pay for any ritual. So, who can answer me why Church should not pay taxes?

That's exactly what bothers me in Russian church. On the one hand it looks like a sect collecting money on the other hand I doubt they can survive these days if they stop feeing incomers there is no so many philanthropists to support Russian church in amount similar to Catholic and Vatican.