Catholic Church targeted for taxes 14 (UPI) -- Local governments in cash-strapped Spain are leading efforts to tax Catholic Church property used for non-religious purposes. The Roman Catholic Church is one of the largest landowners in Spain, The Washington Post reported Friday. A change in Spanish tax laws could result in the church paying up to 3 billion euros ($3.94 billion) a year in taxes. Ricardo Rubio, a city council member in Alcala de Henare, is leading an effort targeting church coffers. "We want to make a statement that the costs of the crisis should be borne equally by every person and institution," Rubio was quoted as saying. While Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti has called for a tax on church properties that have a commercial purpose, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has called the proposals to impose property taxes irresponsible, the newspaper said. At least 100 cities in Spain have passed resolutions supporting municipal taxes on the church, Europa Laica, a pro-secularism group, said.