... Here's a feller says the churches ought to pay taxes.
… I think he's right. In fact, you'd think they'd want to, out of good citizenship.
… But the church is the house of God!
… For all we know, God might feel that he'd like to carry his corner of the public expense. I'm inclined to think he would.
… The churches ought to keep all the money they can get, they do a lot of good all the time.
… So do you and I.
… Yeah. And we can deduct what we give.
… We can't deduct our whole income, the way they do, just because we give some of it away, can we?
… Oh! It isn't the same. They don't do anything else but just good.
… Yes, but they do two kinds of good.
… How do you mean?
… Well, like the Rotary and the Lions, most of those clubs, they help the needy, they give free meals to down-and-outers, do things fox the blind ... That's one kind of good they do.
… What's the other?
… The other's different. They give religious consolation, they battle with sin. Some of them even forgive it.
… Well, that's all good, isn't it?
… Well, yes, you could claim that, but it's only good for the people of the particular church.
… Still, it's good, isn't it?
… It's only the game kind of good that an athletic club offers for athletes, or a bridge club offers to bridge players, and they pay their share of the public expense.
… It isn't the same thing, at all!
… Why not?
… Well, those clubs are just for pleasure, for one thing.
… So are the churches.
… You're crazy! They're for hearing God's word! They're for worship! They're for ...
… Well, doesn't that give pleasure to a religious person? Going to church?
… No. He goes to church because it's his duty. He has to.
… Has to? Do you ever have to go to a Moslem temple?
… Me? To a Moslem temple! I sure don't! I'm a Baptist.
… And you go to the church where all the Baptists go?
… I told you. I'm a Baptist.
… Ever have any Moslem or Jews or Catholics at your church?
… Certainly not. They have their own churches.
… So it's Catholics to their churches; Jews to their synagogues, and Moslems to their temples, huh?
… Now you're talking sense.
… Since they all cater to their own inside group, you might say that they're exclusive worship clubs, huh?
… I don't see that that would mean anything. Besides, they're much more than clubs. They're guardians of the people's morals.
… What about the law being the guardian of the people's morals?
… The law takes care of crime. The churches battle against sin.
… So, if you're against sin ... no taxes! Is that it?
… Sa-ay! I'm against sin! No more taxes for me!!!