American synagogues and other religious Jewish institutions in the United States were reported today to have real estate holdings totaling $7,000,000,000, according to an estimate by Bishop James A. Pike.
In an article in Playboy Magazine advocating the imposition of taxes on the property and income of religious institutions, the Episcopal bishop estimated Catholic church holdings in this country at $44, 500, 000, 000 and Protestant and other church holdings at $28, 000,000, 000.
Bishop Pike contended in the article that the wealth of organized religion in this country has become a “menace” and, without carrying its share of public expense, has grown so large as to threaten the American economy.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
