Written by Don Byrd
Despite its clear dangers to church-state separation, a bill has been introduced in the U.S. Senate that would authorize FEMA funds to repair houses of worship following natural disasters. The issue has been a contentious one in the months following Hurricane Sandy. The Baptist Joint Committee has been throughout a leading voice of principle, arguing that current FEMA restrictions should be maintained. Aid to churches necessarily entangles public money with religion improperly. Read Brent Walker’s column on the situation.
The Senate bill offered by Senators Gillibrand (D-NY) and Blunt (R-MO) would open the church door to contributions from FEMA:
A church, synagogue, mosque, temple or other house of worship, and an otherwise eligible private nonprofit facility operated by a religious organization shall be eligible for contributions… without regard to the religious character of the facility or the primary religious use of the facility.
The bill does limit the use of such funds for replacing or repairing the building structure. But such direct aid to houses of worship should be avoided. This will be easy legislation to support, but important legislation to oppose.
