My journey to this movement began from within the Christian community; I was once a believer that our government would witness improvement with Christ at its core. The reality, however, unfolded distressingly - the propagating manipulation and harm towards marginalized groups, all masked under the guise of religious guidance. My disillusionment became paramount, driving me to insist on change. Undeniably, churches in the U.S. are increasingly engaging in political discussions and preferential advocacy, which question their tax-exempt status. The First Amendment, to be sure, upholds the separation of church and state, an ideal seemingly blurred lately. The political inclinations should no longer be loosely shrouded within religious teachings and dictate societal paradigms without contributing to the fiscal responsibilities that other politically engaged entities abide by. It would be, thus, only fair and practical for churches to be included in the tax framework. According to a University of Tampa study, the potential revenue from such taxation could be $83.5 billion annually [1], which can be progressively channeled towards various public causes. Let us strive for clarification between our spiritual and political domains and promote a system that respects this distinction. For a government of the people, not of a specific creed, it is time to take action. Sign this petition to endorse the implementation of taxation on churches for their political involvement.

[1] Cragun, R., Nielsen, M., & Sumerau, J E. (2016), How Secular Humanists (and Everyone Else) Subsidize Religion in the United States. The Social Science Journal.