Comments on: What is a sanctuary? http://www.getreligion.org/2006/03/what-is-a-sanctuary/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=what-is-a-sanctuary "The press . . . just doesn't get religion." -- William Schneider Sat, 04 Feb 2012 05:07:45 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Kelo at Glen & Paula Davis http://www.getreligion.org/2006/03/what-is-a-sanctuary/comment-page-1/#comment-20024 Kelo at Glen & Paula Davis Wed, 31 May 2006 23:29:13 +0000 http://www.getreligion.org/?p=1464#comment-20024 [...] I’ve been angry about the Kelo decision for a while. Stories like this make me even angrier. [...] […] I’ve been angry about the Kelo decision for a while. Stories like this make me even angrier. […]

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]]> By: Thoughts and Reflections http://www.getreligion.org/2006/03/what-is-a-sanctuary/comment-page-1/#comment-13947 Thoughts and Reflections Fri, 07 Apr 2006 08:33:08 +0000 http://www.getreligion.org/?p=1464#comment-13947 <strong>Emminent domain in Long Beach:</strong> See the picture? The Long Beach Redevelopment Agency voted 6-0 March 13 to condemn the Filipino Baptist Fellowship’s church building, ostensibly because it does not produce enough economic benefit for the city. Emminent domain in Long Beach:

See the picture?
The Long Beach Redevelopment Agency voted 6-0 March 13 to condemn the Filipino Baptist Fellowship’s church building, ostensibly because it does not produce enough economic benefit for the city.

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]]> By: Scratchings… » What is a sanctuary? http://www.getreligion.org/2006/03/what-is-a-sanctuary/comment-page-1/#comment-13258 Scratchings… » What is a sanctuary? Sat, 18 Mar 2006 07:03:51 +0000 http://www.getreligion.org/?p=1464#comment-13258 [...] Read the rest of the article and be disturbed that the supreme court of “justice” in the US has made it so easy for developers to grab buildings, especially churches, and even more especially churches of minority peoples! I smell bad fish here somewhere. GetReligion: March 18, 2006 [...] […] Read the rest of the article and be disturbed that the supreme court of “justice” in the US has made it so easy for developers to grab buildings, especially churches, and even more especially churches of minority peoples! I smell bad fish here somewhere. GetReligion: March 18, 2006 […]

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]]> By: Deacon John M. Bresnahan http://www.getreligion.org/2006/03/what-is-a-sanctuary/comment-page-1/#comment-13228 Deacon John M. Bresnahan Thu, 16 Mar 2006 23:43:19 +0000 http://www.getreligion.org/?p=1464#comment-13228 As a Catholic I would be willing to organize our parishoners to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with other Christians whose churches were threatened by what seems an increasingly Stalinist attitude toward religion by many local and state governments. It isn't only environmentalists and liberals who know how to use their bodies to block bulldozers, However, there is so little news coverage on such issues involving religion and eminent domain (or abuse of zoning and permit laws) that I doubt if I would know of a case even in the next town. But if there ever were a situation where the churches should strongly band together this is it. As a Catholic I would be willing to organize our parishoners to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with other Christians whose churches were threatened by what seems an increasingly Stalinist attitude toward religion by many local and state governments. It isn’t only environmentalists and liberals who know how to use their bodies to block bulldozers,
However, there is so little news coverage on such issues involving religion and eminent domain (or abuse of zoning and permit laws) that I doubt if I would know of a case even in the next town. But if there ever were a situation where the churches should strongly band together this is it.

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]]> By: Michael http://www.getreligion.org/2006/03/what-is-a-sanctuary/comment-page-1/#comment-13226 Michael Thu, 16 Mar 2006 22:12:58 +0000 http://www.getreligion.org/?p=1464#comment-13226 It would likely be done at the behest of corporate interests, since governments do this to meet the demands of large corporatations. Fear more for politicians predisposed to corporate interests than politicians looking to score cultural points. It would likely be done at the behest of corporate interests, since governments do this to meet the demands of large corporatations. Fear more for politicians predisposed to corporate interests than politicians looking to score cultural points.

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]]> By: Joel http://www.getreligion.org/2006/03/what-is-a-sanctuary/comment-page-1/#comment-13223 Joel Thu, 16 Mar 2006 21:30:17 +0000 http://www.getreligion.org/?p=1464#comment-13223 Anybody want to place a bet on how long it is before <i>Kelo</i> gets used on a church for political reasons? There's a pastor in the Seattle suburbs who's been very outspoken on gay issues. (You remember him, the one who wanted to boycott Microsoft.) How much do you think the gay activist groups would like to see his church <i>Kelo</i>'ed? And in Seattle's blue-state-squared environment, how hard do you think it would be to push through? Anybody want to place a bet on how long it is before Kelo gets used on a church for political reasons? There’s a pastor in the Seattle suburbs who’s been very outspoken on gay issues. (You remember him, the one who wanted to boycott Microsoft.) How much do you think the gay activist groups would like to see his church Kelo‘ed? And in Seattle’s blue-state-squared environment, how hard do you think it would be to push through?

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]]> By: Roberto http://www.getreligion.org/2006/03/what-is-a-sanctuary/comment-page-1/#comment-13214 Roberto Thu, 16 Mar 2006 17:23:51 +0000 http://www.getreligion.org/?p=1464#comment-13214 Breakpoint did a broadcast on this subject after being directed to the issue by the Volokh Conspiracy and Stephen Bainbridge. Breakpoint did a broadcast on this subject after being directed to the issue by the Volokh Conspiracy and Stephen Bainbridge.

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]]> By: Web-Droppings at travisstanley.net http://www.getreligion.org/2006/03/what-is-a-sanctuary/comment-page-1/#comment-13210 Web-Droppings at travisstanley.net Thu, 16 Mar 2006 16:13:28 +0000 http://www.getreligion.org/?p=1464#comment-13210 [...] First they take away our right to pray in schools, now they take away our church buildings! [...] […] First they take away our right to pray in schools, now they take away our church buildings! […]

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]]> By: Terrence Berres http://www.getreligion.org/2006/03/what-is-a-sanctuary/comment-page-1/#comment-13208 Terrence Berres Thu, 16 Mar 2006 15:36:52 +0000 http://www.getreligion.org/?p=1464#comment-13208 "... they want to have a church that they own so they’re not at the whim of a landlord." More likely than whim, they would like to avoid a landlord who would evict them if another tenant comes along who will pay more in rent. <i>Kelo</i> makes the government like everyone's landlord in this sense. “… they want to have a church that they own so they’re not at the whim of a landlord.”

More likely than whim, they would like to avoid a landlord who would evict them if another tenant comes along who will pay more in rent. Kelo makes the government like everyone’s landlord in this sense.

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]]> By: John L. Hoh, Jr. http://www.getreligion.org/2006/03/what-is-a-sanctuary/comment-page-1/#comment-13206 John L. Hoh, Jr. Thu, 16 Mar 2006 14:15:40 +0000 http://www.getreligion.org/?p=1464#comment-13206 In my own blog I suggested this as a possibility--and I hate that I'm proven wrong. What makes churches especially susceptable is that they are given tax breaks as non-profit entities. Therefore, a church that brings in no revenue to the local government isn't as attractive as an apartment building that can be taxed. A related story that was in the "Milwaukee Journal Sentinel" a few years ago was the reluctance of local governments to issue building permits to churches or to rezone land churches wanted to buy. Why? Because the property is taken off the tax rolls. In the city of Milwaukee there are many building restrictions. Are they uniformly enforced? No. You see, if you pay a fee you can get a waiver. Of course this fee is paid yearly and is based on the value of the property. My church is looking into adding a new entrance with an elevator to enable access for people with handicaps. Of course this means the new addition comes closer to the sidewalk than city code allows. But no problem, we are told, we can have that waived and be assessed an annual fee. At this point the city official noted the church property hadn't been assessed in a number of years (why? It's not being taxed so any effort to assess it wouldn't benefit the city of Milwaukee--unless we build the addition that comes too close to the sidewalk but which can be waived for a fee based on property value....Well, you can see where this is going). What has made America great is the principle of property rights. Historically governments were restricted in the seizing of personal property. Unfortunately, "Kelo v. New London" has destroyed a basic civil right we have and Russ Feingold ISN'T upset about this affront to civil liberties! All I can say is, I'm glad the church wasn't seixed to build a Planned Parenthood office or abortion clinic. In my own blog I suggested this as a possibility—and I hate that I’m proven wrong. What makes churches especially susceptable is that they are given tax breaks as non-profit entities. Therefore, a church that brings in no revenue to the local government isn’t as attractive as an apartment building that can be taxed.

A related story that was in the “Milwaukee Journal Sentinel” a few years ago was the reluctance of local governments to issue building permits to churches or to rezone land churches wanted to buy. Why? Because the property is taken off the tax rolls.

In the city of Milwaukee there are many building restrictions. Are they uniformly enforced? No. You see, if you pay a fee you can get a waiver. Of course this fee is paid yearly and is based on the value of the property. My church is looking into adding a new entrance with an elevator to enable access for people with handicaps. Of course this means the new addition comes closer to the sidewalk than city code allows. But no problem, we are told, we can have that waived and be assessed an annual fee. At this point the city official noted the church property hadn’t been assessed in a number of years (why? It’s not being taxed so any effort to assess it wouldn’t benefit the city of Milwaukee—unless we build the addition that comes too close to the sidewalk but which can be waived for a fee based on property value….Well, you can see where this is going).

What has made America great is the principle of property rights. Historically governments were restricted in the seizing of personal property. Unfortunately, “Kelo v. New London” has destroyed a basic civil right we have and Russ Feingold ISN’T upset about this affront to civil liberties!

All I can say is, I’m glad the church wasn’t seixed to build a Planned Parenthood office or abortion clinic.

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]]> By: tjic.com » Blog Archive » takings http://www.getreligion.org/2006/03/what-is-a-sanctuary/comment-page-1/#comment-13203 tjic.com » Blog Archive » takings Thu, 16 Mar 2006 12:25:43 +0000 http://www.getreligion.org/?p=1464#comment-13203 [...] Good article on the use of eminent domain against churches. [...] […] Good article on the use of eminent domain against churches. […]

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]]> By: » Eminent Domain vs Church in Long Beach » Leaning Straight Up » Blog Archive » http://www.getreligion.org/2006/03/what-is-a-sanctuary/comment-page-1/#comment-13201 » Eminent Domain vs Church in Long Beach » Leaning Straight Up » Blog Archive » Thu, 16 Mar 2006 07:01:42 +0000 http://www.getreligion.org/?p=1464#comment-13201 [...] I hate to be right again. Last year the Supreme Court issued a wildly unpopular decision that enabled governments to seize property for no other reason than economic development. A recent New York Times article, which has been archived, says that almost every state legislature in the country is advancing bills or constitutional amendments to limit the spread of this ruling. Despite the tenuous legal state that the ruling (Kelo v. New London) is in, a Long Beach government is using it to replace a church with an apartment complex. Sigh. [...] […] I hate to be right again. Last year the Supreme Court issued a wildly unpopular decision that enabled governments to seize property for no other reason than economic development. A recent New York Times article, which has been archived, says that almost every state legislature in the country is advancing bills or constitutional amendments to limit the spread of this ruling. Despite the tenuous legal state that the ruling (Kelo v. New London) is in, a Long Beach government is using it to replace a church with an apartment complex. Sigh. […]

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]]> By: Andrew http://www.getreligion.org/2006/03/what-is-a-sanctuary/comment-page-1/#comment-13198 Andrew Thu, 16 Mar 2006 05:57:03 +0000 http://www.getreligion.org/?p=1464#comment-13198 That is criminal. It is a pretty strong argument for a cultural slide in a increasingly post-Christian United States. On one hand it makes me sad. On the other, perhaps the Church needs to be shaken out of its lethargy. That is criminal. It is a pretty strong argument for a cultural slide in a increasingly post-Christian United States. On one hand it makes me sad. On the other, perhaps the Church needs to be shaken out of its lethargy.

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