Should Churches be Tax Exempt?

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I have yet to see an argument for eliminating the tax exempt status of churches that did not arise out of a desire to decrease the public influence of organized religion on American society. That is precisely the issue at stake: Whether or not churches represent institutions that serve the public interest and whose "public benefit" is worthy of governmental recognition through the tax code.

If the tax exempt status of the churches is ever removed it will be because the consensual opinion of American people, and its elected representatives, has drastically changed regarding the influence of church institutions. Attempts by a vocal minority of aggressive secularists or 'evangels' of atheism will not succeed in eliminating the tax exemption, unless those voices begin to chip away at the respect and gratitude toward the contribution of churches to the American "experiment." 

For example, many of the foundational institutions in our nation would not exist in their present form were it not for the influence of churches: Hospitals, colleges, universities, and all manner of other social service organizations had their origin in one or all of our religious denominations. The presence of these institutions, with their traceable religious roots, is the easier part of the argument; the more difficult one is whether or not the moral and social message of churches will continue to appear to be of 'benefit' to society.