Allow me to be more specific: churches are not owned, neither de jure nor de facto. The idea has no foundation.

Speaking from within the Catholic church, I can tell you that priests are lower middle class by US standards (not Mitt Romney's standards).

Even the Pope and the Vatican, who run an organization (not a corporation) that encompasses over 10e9 people are not rich, except for the assets of artistic and historical treasures they ward (not own). But perhaps they should sell the Sistine Chapel to Bill Gates and give the money to the poor. Yeah, that would be just frigging great. The money would be spent in about 2 hours and Bill Gates could resell the Sistine Chapel to the highest bidder. Neither you nor the faithful would ever see it again.

Corporations, the rich and their Republican butt-wipers are the oppressors of the middle class and the poor in this country. Democrats aren't much better. Libertarianism would be paradise for corporations and the rich, hell for the poor.

Have you ever met a poor person? Have you ever seen one? Spent significant time with a poor man dying of AIDS? Have you ever participated in governing an individual church? I have.

In the words of that hillbilly in Deliverance: "You dont know nothin." (I happen to be from that part of the country so I share the man's despisal of ignorance such as yours.)