Why are some organisations exempt from compliance with basic standards?
A few days back I went to a government seminar on the regulations applying to clubs and associations. The NSW State Government provides a framework for all community organisations to model their constitutions. It requires us to register the organisation, appoint a formal 'Public Officer', follow certain constitutional requirements, submit annual accounts, adopt fair trading practices and so on, to protect members and the public from unscrupulous office bearers and keep clubs honest and transparent. It also licences the fund-raising activities of the organisation, to ensure every step is carried out with honesty.
This is fairly low key stuff but in a sense it mirrors the strict regulative frameworks that large companies and small businesses have to work around. It keeps everybody honest and accountable.
All went well at the seminar as far as I was concerned, until one of the speakers pointed out that religious organisations were exempted from any requirement to comply with the regulations.
What????
So not only are churches exempt from taxation but they are also exempt from complying with the most basic requirements to adequately structure their organisations, keep their membership and financial affairs in order and ensure that all fund-raising activities such as raffles are fair and above board. I am still struggling to deal with this.
Of course, companies, large and small, have to be registered, kept honest and stick to the rules.
Of course, community associations such as sports clubs, pensioners groups and my astronomical society have to be honest and stick to the rules.
Of course, charities should stick to the rules, be licenced and have their fundraising kept under scrutiny.
Of course, all such groups should be publicly accountable and be seen to sticking to the rules.
Yet, religious organisations need be answerable to no-one. Some churches are so small they should be classified as community groups. Others are so big, they ought to be classified as big business. Churches can make up their own rules and no-one in government watches them.
That's the way it appears to be and no government is brave enough or objective enough to look at changing it. Churches are above the law, don't have to comply with any guidelines, are not liable for tax, can harbour criminals, obstruct the course of justice etc. etc. and governments believe this is all ok.
Why?