Civil liberties groups accusing FEMA of playing to religious conservatives

[dajoki]

WP
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9495550

FEMA plans to reimburse faith groups for aid
Civil libertarians object; religious groups ponder what to do

By Alan Cooperman and Elizabeth Williamson
Updated: 12:04 a.m. ET Sept. 27, 2005

After weeks of prodding by Republican lawmakers and the American Red Cross, the Federal Emergency Management Agency said yesterday that it will use taxpayer money to reimburse churches and other religious organizations that have opened their doors to provide shelter, food and supplies to survivors of hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

FEMA officials said it would mark the first time that the government has made large-scale payments to religious groups for helping to cope with a domestic natural disaster.

Civil liberties groups called the decision a violation of the traditional boundary between church and state, accusing FEMA of trying to restore its battered reputation by playing to religious conservatives.

"What really frosts me about all this is, here is an administration that didn't do its job and now is trying to dig itself out by making right-wing groups happy," said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

[Erika]

1. This is a pet peeve which I called the Salvation Army on.

I am not going to give them a contribution only to have my taxes reimburse them for my contribution. They said they were looking into this area.

[dajoki]

2. ‘Volunteer labor is just that’

"Volunteer labor is just that: volunteer," said the Rev. Robert E. Reccord, president of the Southern Baptist Convention's North American Mission Board. "We would never ask the government to pay for it."

[Erika]

3. Many denominations don't want to be tax payer subsidized

That's not what charity is about.

[dajoki]

4. * is dieing to blur the line...

between church and state.

[dajoki]

5. kick