The Political Economy of Religious Property Rights

Religious liberty is generally thought to apply to rights of conscience. However, acting upon one’s beliefs also involves numerous other civil liberties including the right to assemble, as well as the right to own and use real estate. I assert that the successful operation and growth of religious movements requires well-specified and protected private property rights. However, in recent decades, one of the major threats to religious freedom has been an attack on the property rights of religious denominations, particularly smaller and less organized ones. In addition to common Not in my backyard complaints, I assert two additional reasons for this phenomenon: (1) the tax-exempt status of religious groups dis-incentivizes politicians from giving out building permits to congregations; and (2) the growth of private and homeschooling incentivizes politicians concerned with protecting public school funding from granting land use permits that could facilitate alternative educational facilities.