Something that should be pointed out and that is specific to the US: the legal status of religion there invites that type of behaviour. As John Oliver noted in

Something that should be pointed out and that is specific to the US: the legal status of religion there invites that type of behaviour. As John Oliver noted in the segment mentioned, the law is extremely vague in its definition of what a religious activity is, and gives pretty clear advantages in terms of tax exemption. That high rewards to low obligation ratio naturally invites parasites. If, say, NGO had a similar status instead, said parasites would move there.