Pissedoffvulcan
Posts : 4629
Join date : 2009-10-07
 | | Subject: FEMA Denies Religious Group. Fri Jul 26, 2013 7:22 pm | |
| KEANSBURG, N.J. -- Whether it be an overdue rent bill, a warm coat or a bag full of groceries, Project Paul has been there for Bayshore residents for more than 30 years.
But when the Keansburg-based religious charity went to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for financial assistance after Superstorm Sandy caused tens of thousands of dollars in damages, officials say they got the run-around.
"We've always been a mini-FEMA for the community," said Sal Cortale, the group's executive director. "Now we're the ones who need help."
Despite working to help the region recover after Sandy, several faith-based groups in the area say FEMA has not sufficiently funded their own recovery efforts because of what the groups see as a misguided adherence to separating church and state.
"These groups have gotten the back of FEMA's hand," said Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., who sponsored a bill in the House of Representatives that would allow faith-based groups to follow the same FEMA reimbursement process as private nonprofit organizations. | |
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ilaugh
Posts : 333
Join date : 2012-11-07
| | Subject: Re: FEMA Denies Religious Group. Fri Jul 26, 2013 9:26 pm | |
| - Quote :
- "In a rare example of bipartisanship, the House voted 354-72 in February to approve the bill. A Senate version awaits review by a subcommittee."
Well, there's an example of the government going after those pesky Christians. With bipartisan support! Personally I agree with the argument against it that followed. - Quote :
- Maggie Garrett, legislative director of the advocacy group Americans United for Separation of Church and State, said regardless of the good intentions of religious groups, taxpayer dollars should not be used for repairing or replacing houses of worship such as churches, synagogues or mosques.
After Hurricane Katrina, FEMA similarly did not provide money to organizations seeking to repair damaged religious structures, Garrett said. Changing the policy now could easily add tens of millions of dollars in annual costs to an already bloated federal budget, she said.
"Once you start handing out money, it can be hard to figure out when you're paying for the religious and when you're paying for the non-religious," Garrett said. "Houses of worship should be maintained by the faithful, not by the taxpayer."
Garrett argues that the separation of church and state is a long-standing American belief that ultimately is about religious liberty: Citizens should not be required to give money to religions they may not necessarily support, she said. Similarly, many congregations may not want the government prying into their internal affairs or telling them what to do. Reminds me a little of a current Catholic issue with health insurance. They don't want to be forced to provide us with birth control, we don't want to be forced to rebuild their churches. | |
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