Walz v. Tax Commission

Date: May 4, 1970

Citation: 397 U.S. 664

Issue: Establishment of religion

Significance: The Supreme Court upheld property tax relief for religious institutions.

Chief Justice Warren E. Burger wrote the opinion for the 8-1 majority, holding that New York state’s exemption of religious institutions from paying property taxes did not violate the establishment of religion clause. The Supreme Court found that this law, which implemented a provision of the New York state constitution, was sufficiently remote from entanglement of the government in religion that it did not attempt to establish religion. The law exempted all real estate owned by an association organized exclusively for religious purposes. Justice William O. Douglas dissented.

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