The Supreme Court recently upheld the power of local governments to seize homes and give the property to private businesses for development. This decision led some to speculate that churches, which don't pay local taxes, would become prime targets for 'eminent domain' seizures. They could also become prime beneficiaries, if some have their way.

The Mercury News reports that a Commonwealth Court in Pennsylvania ruled against the city of Philadelphia in a case where a private home was seized and given to a religious group that wanted to build a private religious school:

“The evidence shows that the Hope Partnership designated the land that it wanted and requested the authority to acquire it, and the authority proceeded to do so,” wrote Judge Doris A. Smith-Ribner, writing for the majority. “This joint effort demonstrates the entanglement between church and state.”

A private religious school might do good things in a community, but a primary purpose of such a school is to promote and encourage religious beliefs. Seizing land for a religious school is really no better than seizing land so that a new church can be built. It’s bad enough when private land is seized and given to wealthy business interests, but it’s even worse when the same is done on behalf of influential religious interests.

 

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