Editorial: Churches find tough going in getting land

Tuesday, Nov. 10, 1998 | 11:53 a.m.

As competition for land in Southern Nevada hits a fever pitch, the Sun's Stacy Willis reported Sunday that BLM officials have been trying to discourage religious organizations from applying for the land offered at discount prices through the Recreation and Public Purposes Act. Government agencies understandably want to get the biggest bang for their buck when selling public land, and discount sales obviously hinder that goal. But more than money is at stake here.

Nonprofit groups, such as churches, provide a great benefit to Southern Nevada. With government providing fewer services, religious organizations are playing an even greater role in providing valuable programs, whether it's helping the needy or feeding the homeless. Without the continued support of this law assisting nonprofit groups, many churches may never be built, a loss to Southern Nevada that no dollar amount could adequately describe.

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