Significant financial benefit from houses of worship

Canadian religious congregations bring the country an estimated benefit worth $18.2 billion, according to a study from ecumenical think tank Cardus. The study examined tax returns and benefit of 176 Canadian houses of worship and multiplied the average dollar-value of the benefit by the spending of all Canadian congregations. Canadian congregations provide the community an average $3.39 benefit for every $1 of their budget. That number jumps to $5.02 for rural congregations. The benefits include direct spending, programs to help refugees and other vulnerable groups, counselling and other community care, and free or discounted facility space for programs like food banks, addictions programs and community events.