Religious organizations are held to a standard of accountability beyond laws. Buddhist organizations, in particular, have defied this standard for too long by not practicing openness in their financial dealings. The Jogye Order’s first disclosure of the revenues of the nation’s four largest temples this week is a significant step toward establishing transparency of the temples. This will hopefully make way for fiscal transparency becoming the norm, not an exception, across all religions in Korea.
Fiscal transparency is important because temples have a duty to donors and believers to let them know that their donations are being spent wisely and to prevent any misuse of funds. Korea’s largest Buddhist sect said that Bongeunsa Temple, a famous temple in Seoul’s affluent Gangnam district, earned 21 billion won ($18.3 million) through prayer services, donations and other activities last year. Jogye Temple in central Seoul made 20.05 billion won.
The rare opening of the temples’ finances is part of the Jogye Order’s self-reform measures. Publicizing revenues will be a huge step toward restoring the religion’s reputation that has been marred by gambling and corruption scandals. Buddhists organizations, which have lagged behind the Roman Catholic Church and other religious organizations in financial transparency, should eventually disclose the finances of other temples nationwide. In addition to this, temples should also practice more fiscal transparency with outside accounting firms and in planning their budgets professionally.
Ultimately, the Jogye Order’s financial disclosure should convince the rest in the religious community to honor their roles as responsible members of society by embracing the government’s plan to tax religious professionals. The government was going to impose income taxes on monks, pastors and priests starting in 2015, but the plan has been delayed until 2018 due to severe opposition from the religious community. There is much public discontent toward the religious sector’s unwillingness to pay taxes.
Where there is income, there should be taxes. This principle should apply to all citizens, and religious professionals and organizations are no exception. Religious organizations made around 8 trillion won in donations last year. Their massive earnings should be taxed like any other money-making enterprise.
Religions have a unique role in society, but those who serve in the religious profession should not be given privileges denied to ordinary citizens like tax exemption. Temples and churches will gain more respect from society by strictly upholding financial accountability and paying taxes.