Sometimes even politicians do the right thing for the wrong reason
Bell’s proposal, being municipal, refers only to property taxes. But let’s take the discussion to a higher plane of existence and talk about all tax exemptions for churches. And everyone else. Why does anyone get tax breaks, and why should they?
The state is not Santa Claus, showering gifts upon all with a veneer of caring who’s been naughty or nice. In fact it is responsible for dealing with people who do really bad stuff. It tries and jails them. But provided we do not use force and fraud against our fellows, we should be free to pursue worthwhile or inane activities in all spheres, from economic to social to metaphysical. Otherwise the government must choose sides and “pick winners” in everything from business to religion.
It’s worse if one “established” faith gets special treatment, and worse still if non-members face legal sanctions, since then the state openly decides which is the one true faith. But even a mushy modern conviction that various religions are equally valid does the same thing, just more feebly, since some practices still get breaks while others, like Pastafarianism or atheism, do not.
In taking a contrary position and defending their handouts from Caesar, the churches seem to rely on the core precept of “give me money.” Suggesting that the real founder of Canada was John A. Besoin. As Cosh noted, “It is only atheists per se, whatever their political stripe, who have ever made much noise about the various tax exemptions churches enjoy because of our deep legal tradition.”