(cache) Should Churches (Defined as Churches, Temples, Mosques, Synagogues, etc.) Remain Tax-Exempt? - 2016 Presidential Election

2016 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

Last updated on: 8/10/2016 3:03:20 PM PST

Should Churches (Defined as Churches, Temples, Mosques, Synagogues, etc.) Remain Tax-Exempt?

Pro

Trump

Con

Johnson

Not Clear or Not Found

Clinton

Stein

Pro (Yes)

Pro

Donald Trump
Republican

"An amendment, pushed by Lyndon Johnson, many years ago, threatens religious institutions with a loss of their tax-exempt status if they openly advocate their political views. Their voice has been taken away. I will work hard to repeal that language and to protect free speech for all Americans."

Source: Donald J. Trump, "Full Text: Donald Trump 2016 RNC Draft Speech Transcript," politico.com, July 21, 2016

Con (No)

Con

Gary Johnson
Libertarian

"As with almost all aspects of the current tax code, the granting of exemptions, credits, etc., to specific groups is a recipe for favoritism and government manipulation. That is one of the primary reasons I advocate a simple federal consumption tax to replace all income taxes - and eliminate all tax subsidies, credits and exemptions."

Source: Email to ProCon.org from Gary Johnson's Communications Director, Joe Hunter, Oct. 9, 2012

None Found

Hillary Clinton
Democrat

No position found as of Aug. 10, 2016

Not Clearly Pro or Con

Jill Stein
Green

"Peter J. Reilly: ...Someone who is designated a minister of the gospel is entitled to exclude from income the amount their congregation pays them for housing [known as the parsonage exclusion] regardless of the size, there is no dollar limit on this... If you were president would you consider not defending the constitutionality of the parsonage exclusion?...

Jill Stein: ...I try not to shoot from the hip, and actually consider these things before taking a position on them, and I would have to say that I would do that. But at first blush I would agree with the principal here of separation of church and state, which would seem to say we should not give special favors to employees of religious institutions that certainly sounds true."

Source: Peter J Reilly, "Jill Stein Lining Up with Freedom from Religion Foundation on Parsonage Exclusion," forbes.com, Oct. 9, 2012

FORMER CANDIDATES

(Candidates who have withdrawn or who no longer meet our criteria appear below in black and white and in alphabetical order.)

Pro

Con

Not Clear or Not Found

Bush

Carson

Christie

Cruz

Fiorina

Graham

Huckabee

Kasich

O'Malley

Paul

Rubio

Sanders

Pro (Yes)

Con (No)

None Found

Jeb Bush
Republican

Withdrew on Feb. 20, 2016; no additional research done as of that date to determine candidate's position on this question.

None Found

Ben Carson
Republican

Withdrew on Mar. 4, 2016; no additional research done as of that date to determine candidate's position on this question.

None Found

Chris Christie
Republican

Withdrew on Feb. 10, 2016; no additional research done as of that date to determine candidate's position on this question.

None Found

Ted Cruz
Republican

Withdrew on May 3, 2016; no additional research done as of that date to determine candidate's position on this question.

None Found

Carly Fiorina
Republican

Withdrew on Feb. 10, 2016; no additional research done as of that date to determine candidate's position on this question.

None Found

Lindsey Graham
Republican

Withdrew on Dec. 21, 2015; no additional research done as of that date to determine candidate's position on this question.

None Found

Mike Huckabee
Republican

Withdrew on Feb. 1, 2016; no additional research done as of that date to determine candidate's position on this question.

None Found

John Kasich
Republican

Withdrew on May 4, 2016; no additional research done as of that date to determine candidate's position on this question.

None Found

Martin O'Malley
Democrat

Withdrew on Feb. 1, 2016; no additional research done as of that date to determine candidate's position on this question.

None Found

Rand Paul
Republican

Withdrew on Feb. 3, 2016; no additional research done as of that date to determine candidate's position on this question.

None Found

Marco Rubio
Republican

Withdrew on Mar. 15, 2016; no additional research done as of that date to determine candidate's position on this question.

None Found

Bernie Sanders
Democrat

Failed to win the Democratic nomination on July 26, 2016; no additional research done as of that date to determine candidate’s position on this question.