What they really need to do is be absolutely strict about tax-exempt status for religions.
If they want to be a religion and do good works, fine.
If they want to even mention politics from the pulpit, whether working for a candidate, advocating for or endorsing a candidate, or even organizing voting like "Souls To The Polls" (i.e., this will be politically neutral and affect both sides), then your organization is fully taxable.
Insane amounts of money is in circulation in the religious sector. If it is for good works, that is wonderful. If it is being diverted to political activities, that is not something the entire set of taxpayers should be effectively subsidizing.
Most of the money they take in isn't for truly "good works", it's just for building churches or more buildings and trying to convert more people. There's nothing wonderful about that. Even their free meals programs come with strings attached: poor people have to listen to a sermon before they're allowed to eat.
Yup. I was just writing on the charitable side. It wouldn't bother me if they taxed everything that was not gratis good works, such as feeding or housing people without sermons, but the bigger step that is really necessary is taxing the snot out of them if they touch politics.
I'd take it a step further (while allowing religious organizations to remain tax exempt still and even do politics if that's what they are into).
The rule I'd like to see is this: A religious organization's total assets may not exceed some reasonable amount for operating costs (private jets and mansions and multi billion dollar real estate and security holdings are out). Books are audited annually and publicly posted. Work out formula that say (for example) ministers pay may not exceed some multiple of average US salary, improvements to church facilities my not exceed some amount per congregant per decade etc. It could actually be very generous and allow nice churches and plenty of charitable work and well compensated ministry without the free for all grifting we have going on right now.
You can be a business, or you can be a religion and you have to chose.
I think this may actually improve churches many of which now are simply big scammy untaxed businesses selling not much of any use.
If they want to be a religion and do good works, fine.
If they want to even mention politics from the pulpit, whether working for a candidate, advocating for or endorsing a candidate, or even organizing voting like "Souls To The Polls" (i.e., this will be politically neutral and affect both sides), then your organization is fully taxable.
Insane amounts of money is in circulation in the religious sector. If it is for good works, that is wonderful. If it is being diverted to political activities, that is not something the entire set of taxpayers should be effectively subsidizing.