re: #4 kreyagg

The primary difference is that you can pretty easily choose a different religion, or even more sensibly give up your religion entirely.
It is more difficult to change nationalities. Plus, when was the last time parishioners got to vote for their priests bishops or popes?

I am also under the impression that giving money to the church is entirely voluntary.

Many persons, in their quest for moral purity, took the option and penalty for withholding the DoD portion of their taxes during the Viet Nam war. They risked only their fines and freedom, while you are asking my wife to risk her very soul. The actions and purposes of institutions are not necessarily those of their worst members.