If a church defies shutdown or social distancing orders, should the church's tax exempt status be suspended?

Answer 1

No, I think tax exempt status should be taken up separately.  A church that does this should be subject to the same fines and penalties as any other group, though.

I would need to hear specific details of the case before forming a specific opinion, but in general, I believe that Christian churches should Love our Neighbors, and Render unto Caesar, and this would seem to go against that.

Answer 2

We need to come down hard on churches in every possible way.  But of course protests with 10,000 people shoulder to shoulder, looting and burning, are fine.  It's nice to have laws that are flexible so that you can use them against enemies and not against those on our side. 

Answer 3

Only if congress passes a law that allows the government to do that.  The Government can not just decide it is going to punish a group for doing something they do not like.  That would be anarchy.

Suppose they did revoke the tax exempt status.  Basically that would mean that the church would have pau property taxes, which might set them back a few thousands dollars a month.  And they might have to pay taxes on anything that the government could prove was a "profit" made by the church through donations or other means.  Carefully bookkeeping and there would never be a profit made by any church.  

So really, the threat is not worth that much.  It would not do enough damage to the average church to matter.

Answer 4

The church could claim it was a peaceful protest, which would exempt them from following the "guidelines".

Answer 5

BECAUSE OF THE SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE, YOU PROBABLY HAVE HARD TIME DOING THAT

Answer 6

NO, just imprison the pastors until they agree to modify their bigoted views

Answer 7

No.  IMHO we should do away with the "non-taxable charity" category.   Make every organization pay taxes,  churches,   food kitchens,  the NRA,  every one of them. 

Answer 8

so then you have no problem using taxation as a punitive measure...?

yes... that seems quite consistent with your ideology....

Answer 9

We should open up the economy since studies show lock downs don't work.  LOL

Answer 10

 Very certainly yes