How do you reach those conclusions that they waste dollars ? Granted, I see some of the
school districts building athletic facilities that rival some colleges, and I wonder at times if that
is wasteful or excessive . But what waste are you referring to ?
Likewise, what criteria are you using that public schools are doing less in return ?
I think the focus here is on property tax, the primary means of funding the schools.
I was under impression they donât pay property taxes either, or is that incorrect ?
Churches, like all charities and virtually all nonprofits, are not subject to local property taxes. Unlike with business income taxes, this is not an inevitability. Nothing theoretically prevents states from authorizing local taxation of nonprofitsâ land and buildings, and the nature of property taxes may even argue in favor.
I didnât think anyone was advocating shuttering the parochial schools, just that they take a lot of pressure off of the public school systems. I think one of the reasons enrollment at Catholic schools is dropping is due to a couple of things. One, the economy and the high cost of Catholic schools. Two, I think there is less and less church attendance in all denominations.
NR, a lot of the clergy housing is owned by their church and not them. I think this is normally the case for Methodist churches where the parsonage is church owned and the pastors are temporary. Most Methodist pastors move every 4 years or so and live in the parsonages instead of having to buy and sell homes every time they are relocated by the bishop and DS.
So I believe his first part is that the separation of church and state via the establishment clause. Is to protect the religion from the state, not the state from the religion. Personally I think a strong wall is best for both. Good fences make good neighbors.
You can do a search and find articles pointing out abuses, the Houston Chronicle having done a series. Unless itâs abusive, like Kenneth Copelandâs mansion, Iâve no problem with a tax exemption, and Iâm a godless capitalist.
Iâm not sure if itâs just a Catholic or a protestant thing or both, in regards to declining
enrollment. I would suspect all are seeing declines based upon your reason Two above.
I donât think itâs so much about economics , since Americans real disposable income has
been on an upward trajectory for awhile.