Nobody likes paying taxes. Nobody likes spending more money than they have to, particularly when times are tight. Nonetheless, taxes are the bedrock of the American economy because they allow for infrastructure to be maintained, public schooling to be funded, healthcare to be distributed and the American people to be protected.

Some groups are privileged insofar as they are exempt from paying taxes under certain sections of the Internal Revenue Code, and with good reason to, such as educational, charitable, scientific and public safety organizations. Nonsensically, religious institutions are placed under the same umbrella; this special treatment needs to be reconsidered.

Indeed, all 350,000+ religious congregations in the U.S. are free from paying a single nickel to the federal government in income tax. Some may consider this negligible, after all, how much money could churches possibly even be making? As it turns out, collectively quite a lot. According to a study done by the University of Tampa, instituting a federal tax on all religious congregations in the U.S. would amount to an extra $71 billion in tax revenue each year. Coincidentally, discretionary spending on public education is similar, at $69.98 billion.

Just imagine the amount of progress and innovation America could initiate if funds were extracted from religious institutions and then planted into education, doubling its annual endowment.

The very concept of giving a tax-free pass to religious institutions is blatantly unconstitutional. The first amendment prescribing congress to “make no law respecting an establishment of religion” makes this quite clear. Failure of the government to review this policy is likely due to the claim that religious organizations are highly charitable. But since they do not file tax returns, how can we know what religious organizations’ balance sheets even look like? How can we know that funds are being spent philanthropically, rather than on flat-screen televisions for mega churches or alligator shoes for pastors?

If religious institutions’ charitable causes are unintelligible, surely their moral contributions to society are worthy of fiscal immunity. This is not the case. Instilling notions of creationism in the minds of Americans should not be a priority in the 21st century, nor does it pass as moral compensation. Under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, an organization is eligible for being exempt from taxes if it is “organized and operated exclusively for religious, educational, scientific or other charitable purposes.” How can scientific and religious purposes even be placed in the same category, when it can be argued that one clearly contradicts the other?

Although an additional column (or book) would be required to flesh out the monumental failures of faith, the following fact remains: religious institutions need to pay their fair share. A tax break for churches, temples and mosques forces all American taxpayers to support religion, even if a portion of them identify as nonbelievers. Tax exemptions are reserved for organizations that directly aid the government and the well-being of it’s citizens; religious institutions are not one of them.

The opportunity cost of failing to collect dues is simply too high, particularly during times of economic hardship and when the national debt nears heights of $20 trillion. It is absolutely vital that now, more than ever, the U.S. distinguish itself as a secular leader dedicated to the progressive values of science and reason. Implementing such a tax is a step needed in order to solidify that identity.

Brian Deinstadt is a sophomore double-majoring in political science and English.