Publication Date
Spring 2021
School
Helms School of Government
Major
Government: Pre-Law
Keywords
separation of church and state, church and state, government, religion
Disciplines
Law | Religion Law
Recommended Citation
Lethbridge, Emily, "Analyzing the Fiscal Relationship Between the Church and State" (2021). Senior Honors Theses. 1108.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/honors/1108
Abstract
The relationship between the government and the church is frequently debated in the United States. One main concern is the legality of the government granting funding to churches, religious schools, and Christian organizations. Religious institutions are separated from the government; thus, they can be tax-exempt and able to discriminate on a religious basis. The Supreme Court has analyzed the Free Exercise and Establishment Clauses in several cases to determine when the government may grant funds to religious institutions. In the past decade, administrative code and judicial case law have both expanded religious institutions’ ability to receive governmental funds. Inevitably, controversy surrounds each decision and the evolving relationship between the church and state.
