'The Status of Religion and the Public Benefit in Charity Law' is an apologetic for maintaining the presumption of public benefit for the charitable category 'advancement of religion' in democratic countries within the English common law tradition. In response to growing academic and political pressure to reform charity law - including recurring calls to remove tax exemptions granted to religious charities - the scholars in this volume analyse the implications of legislative and legal developments in Canada, the UK, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. In the process, they also confront more fundamental, sociological or philosophical questions on the very nature and role of religion in a secular society that would deny any space for religious communities outside their houses of worship. In other words, this book is concerned with the place of religion - and religious institutions - in contemporary society. It represents a series of concerns about the proper role of the state in relation to the differing beliefs of citizens - some of which will quite rightly manifest in actions to benefit the wider society. This debate, then, naturally engages with broader issues related to secularism, civic engagement and liberal democratic freedoms.

Should religious charities be denied charitable status because of political incorrectness?

About the Author

Barry W. Bussey is director, legal affairs, Canadian Council of Christian Charities, and associate adjunct professor of law, University of Notre Dame Australia (Sydney). The co-editor of Religion, Liberty and the Jurisdictional Limits of Law (2017), Bussey has, with many years of experience in the charitable and non-profit sectors, written extensively on law and religion.

Reviews

'This fine set of essays exposes the complex assumptions underlying recent controversies and provides wide-ranging resources for a powerful argument in defence of the historic legal presumption that religion is a public good.' -Julian Rivers, Professor of Jurisprudence, University of Bristol Law School, UK

'This is a fascinating and provocative collection of papers about why advancement of religion should remain a category of public benefit for charity law purposes. At a broader level, it is about the contribution that all religions - even those one disagrees with - make within a society. An important book.' -Dwight Newman QC, Professor of Law, University of Saskatchewan, Canada

'Does the advancement of religion constitute a public good? This timely book addresses the question of religion's social value in a scholarly, evidence-based analysis of the issue of public benefit. It will be an influential and most welcome voice in the debate.' -Mary Anne Waldron QC, Professor Emeritus, Faculty of Law, University of Victoria, Canada

'This volume brings together insightful contributions on the promotion of civic good by and through religion. It is required reading in an era where the secular-minded state increasingly threatens the flourishing of freedom of religion.' -Mark Hill QC, Vice President, International Consortium for Law and Religion Studies

The book makes a passionate argument for the place and public benefit of religion in contemporary society in the context of current debate. The contributors, all well versed in the subject, bring together a wealth of evidence to support their case of the public benefit of religion, from different disciplines and perspectives. -Lindsay Driscoll, https://thephilanthropist.ca/2020/07/book-review-the-status-of-religion-and-the-public-benefit-in-charity-law/, published July 20, 2020

Book Information
ISBN 9781785273629
Author Barry W. Bussey
Format Paperback
Page Count 282
Imprint Anthem Press
Publisher Anthem Press
Weight(grams) 454g
Dimensions(mm) 229mm * 153mm * 26mm