A Religious Rescue from the Fiscal Cliff

Posted: 12/17/2012

Politicians are working themselves into a frenzy trying to prevent the much feared “fiscal cliff,” a term used to describe a bundle of momentous federal tax increases and spending cuts that will happen later this year if government officials fail to act. But as the White House and Congress consider ending middle-class tax breaks like the payroll tax cut while also reducing valued programs like Medicare, they may be missing an opportunity to level the playing field among religious and philosophically-based organizations in a way that would also have a big impact on our nation’s ability to return to fiscal solvency.

It’s time to reconsider the huge tax benefits and government subsidies that are provided to government-recognized religions in this country. Beyond the obvious constitutional issues of the state giving preferential treatment to religious organizations, it just makes sense that in these times of budget tightening, the government can no longer afford to subsidize religious groups, their leaders, or their programs.

To read the rest of the Huffington Post article from AHA Executive Director Roy Speckhardt, click here.