What is the case for why and how to tax churches?

[patrice]

I'm going to be around a progressive think tank, and I wan't to propose taxation of churches as a project we might work on.

Does anyone have links to any valid references on this topic?

[et in Arcadia ego...]

1. Just don't fund them with donations/tithes, that's how.

But if you really want to 'tax' them, tax them with questions about the origins of Christianity. That's their Achilles heal (sic). As far as trying governmental taxation, that ain't gonna ever happen.