Harvest Family Church, Hi-Way Tabernacle and the Rockport First Assembly of God were all damaged this last summer when hurricane Harvey hit Texas. They applied for FEMI relief funds but were denied because of an agency rule that a house of worship may only receive funds if over half of the activity involved in the structure is “for non-religious purposes.”
A federal judge upheld FEMI’s policy while declining to rule if it’s constitutional.
I’d say it’s pretty difficult for a church to continue to carry out its charitable works for its community when the building itself is flood damaged and the congregation can’t utilize the facility anymore.
The judge is foot dragging because it’s not a Mosque.
I think it’s time to review those erroneous regulations. Sounds like a direct violation of the Constitution,
Freedom of religion, not freedom from religion, sounds like an atheistic reason not to reimburse churches for damages.
Extirpates – – are you serious? Since when does the Constitution provide for disaster relief? Do you intend to enslave me to pay for someone else’s misfortune?
Department of Homeland Security, FEMA
Protecting Americans from Christian Churches that use less than 51% of their Facility for NON-Religious activity.
Only government can discriminate against Religion. Is government forcing Churches to be non-religious social clubs?
Church properties are tax exempt. I would say they get nothing from tax money for any purpose.
They were built by the community which hopefully didn’t use God as an insurance underwriter.
No, no tax money for them.
The people who were at ground 0 days before the National Guard after hurricane Katrina were from churches.
The Judge enforced the law (or the rules really) while declining to make new law (or change the rules) by deciding whether this violated the constitution. I think that’s what we’ve all been wishing the Judges would actually do. If the law is wrong then congress can direct FEMI to make changes.
I suspect that if the churches were mosques, or even synagogues, a lot of people here would feel differently about giving them FEMA tax dollars.
In order for religion to be free from political influence (and vice versa), it needs to be funded and supported by its congregants, not the Government. That’s why the Founding Fathers believed in separation of Church and State.
Just sayin’.
VV, you’re dead on. If only that same reasoning applied to other religious structures/institutions, we’d be closer to the mark. I see both sides of the argument, but perpetuating a wrong corrects nothing. On the other hand, if we don’t fight to at least remain equal, what have we gained, moral or political? If Uncle Sam insists on playing on this field, should the rules not be enforced?
I have an answer, but to chose it is to lose, by common thought. Perhaps we’re already too far gone; To give up the fight or to give up the faith. Not a pleasant situation. Here lies the essence of faith.
I’m with Vietvet on this one. Get out there and do fundraisers if you want it back.
I bet PC moonbats gets dizzy reading the comments here.
Everything one needs to know about life can be learned at iOTW.
as churches pay no taxes why do they think they are due federal monies? You got to ante up before your dealt a hand.