While I agree that eminent domain is one of government's most significant powers, subject to dgregious abuses, I can't get worked up about the church's loss. If churches and other nonprofits paid their fiar share of taxes, I'd consider their property rights as sacrosanct as the grocer's, thebarber's or the jiggle-joint owenr's. As it stands, many cities have churches with monstrous 5000 member congregations that pay no property taxes, "consume" 10-plus acres of residential land (w/valuations of $50/sq.ft. that someone else must pay) and offer health clubs, schools, travel clubs, summer camps, and a fart of other services that limbo under the tax bar.
I'm happy for people to exercise their religious freedom. I get annoyed when the "Church of Lazarus" gets a walk on a $50,000 tax bill on their 100,000 sq.ft. facility while the neighbors have to absorb the taxes and Sunday traffic.
It seems that Mr. Manley thinks that eminent domain is OK in this case since the "victim" is a non-taxed entity known as a Church.