Church Property as a Bulwark of Religious Liberty

The link between liberty and private ownership of property is well-appreciated in Western thought. This lecture explores one aspect of that link: the relationship between church property and religious liberty. Focusing on the intersection of law, culture, and religion in American history, it illuminates how property-holding by religious institutions preserves their liberty. In this light, it becomes clear that efforts to weaken church property rights should be seen as threats to religious liberty.