Skip to main content
LIRA@BC Law

Abstract

The government exempts religious associations front taxation and, in return, restricts their putatively political expression and activities. This exemption-and-restriction scheme invites government to interpret and categorize the means by which religious communities live out their vocations and engage the world. But government is neither well-suited nor to be trusted with this kind of line-drawing. What's more, this invitation is dangerous to authentically religious consciousness and associations. When government communicates and enforces its own view of the nature of religion—i.e., that it is a private matter—and of its proper place—i.e., in the private sphere, not in politics—it tempts both believers and faith communities , to embrace this view. The result is a privatized faith, re-shaped to suit the vision and needs of government, and a public square evacuated of religious associations capable of mediating between persons and the state and challenging prophetically the government's claims and conduct.

Files

File nameDate UploadedVisibilityFile size
42_4_771.pdf
6 Sep 2022
Public
1.77 MB

Metrics

Metadata

  • Subject
    • Politics

    • Religion Law

    • Taxation

  • Journal title
    • Boston College Law Review

  • Volume
    • 42

  • Issue
    • 4

  • Pagination
    • 771

  • Date submitted

    6 September 2022