When Sacred and Secular Mix: Religious Nonprofit Organizations and Public Money

(Paperback)

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Despite America's traditional emphasis on the separation of church and state, both in theory and practice, few are aware of the hundreds of millions of public dollars that flow annually to religiously based nonprofit organizations. Based on a nation-wide survey of nearly 800 such groups, Stephen V. Monsma's study explores the implications of this financial partnership. Although most religiously based groups currently receiving tax dollars do not compromise the autonomy of their religious beliefs, the author argues that the legal principles under which the Supreme Court has approved public funding has placed their religious freedom in a legally vulnerable position. The author develops a new legal principle, positive neutrality, that both justifies public funds going to religious nonprofit groups and draws boundaries between permissible and impermissible use of public funds. This text should be useful for anyone interested in the relationship between church and state.

Reviews

Highly recommended for academics, lawyers, and political leaders. * Choice Reviews *
This is the book on the next hot subject: plans to draw on faith-based groups for our social reconstruction. It contains evidence, provides analysisand judgment. One of the best. -- Amitai Etzioni, professor, George Washington University; founder of the Society for the Advancement of Socio-Economics
Provides useful information, careful analysis, and powerful recommendations on this important problem. -- A James Reichley, Senior Fellow; Georgetown University; author of The Life of the Parties
Stephen Monsma provides powerful historical, legal, constitutional, and practical support for the idea that religious institutions should be more involved in the delivery of needed public services to all Americans. I hope the Supreme Court is reading. -- Michael W. McConnell, William B. Graham Professor of Law, University of Chicago
Stephen V. Monsma's well-researched study develops an enhanced conceptual framework for the expanded role of religious-based nonprofits in implementing public policies. -- Rev. Kevin Sullivan, Chief Operating Officer, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York
Those who advocate a high wall separating church and state- wanted to find out about and cut public funding for religious no-profits, they would do well to read Stephen V. Monsma's 'When Sacred and Secular Mix' * Philanthropy *

Author Bio

Stephen V. Monsma is professor of political science and chair of the Social Science Division at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California. He is the author of several books on religion and politics, including Positive Neutrality: Letting Religious Freedom Ring.