05-12-2011, 12:53 AM
rj you are completely ignoring all that went on late 18th century? Many of the colonies (then later states) actually had "state religion" well into the 19th century, something they had inherited from England. So the church not only didn't pay tax, it actually received money from the state to operate, and in some places, like New Hampshire, only Protestants were allowed to serve in gov't. That went on until late in the 19th century. Things wound down to where we are today in very different ways across the states, but the consistent thread was the belief that churches should be allowed to exist free of intrusion from the state.
And, about the Supreme Court, here they are 200 years later...
Walz vs. Tax Commission of the City of New York, 1970
"The Supreme Court stated that a tax exemption for churches "creates only a minimal and remote involvement between church and state and far less than taxation of churches. [An exemption] restricts the fiscal relationship between church and state, and tends to complement and reinforce the desired separation insulating each from the other." The Supreme Court also said that "the power to tax involves the power to destroy." Taxing churches breaks down the healthy separation of church and state and leads to the destruction of the free exercise of religion." "
And, about the Supreme Court, here they are 200 years later...
Walz vs. Tax Commission of the City of New York, 1970
"The Supreme Court stated that a tax exemption for churches "creates only a minimal and remote involvement between church and state and far less than taxation of churches. [An exemption] restricts the fiscal relationship between church and state, and tends to complement and reinforce the desired separation insulating each from the other." The Supreme Court also said that "the power to tax involves the power to destroy." Taxing churches breaks down the healthy separation of church and state and leads to the destruction of the free exercise of religion." "