New Budget Allows Taxpayer Funds to Rebuild Houses of Worship
FEMA’s policy allowing taxpayer funds to restore and rebuild houses of worship is now codified into law, but the controversy over disaster funding for religion may just be heating up.
FEMA’s policy allowing taxpayer funds to restore and rebuild houses of worship is now codified into law, but the controversy over disaster funding for religion may just be heating up.
Houses of worship impacted by natural disasters will have access to taxpayer relief funds, after a longstanding policy protecting church-state separation was revised by FEMA.
Should the government provide monetary assistance directly to houses of worship? In the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, a federal judge in Texas has upheld FEMA’s policy barring grants for facilities with a religious purpose.
A federal judge in Texas is asking FEMA and other interested parties to offer arguments in defense of the agency’s policy not to award grants to houses of worship out of church-state concerns.
We all want to help our neighbors rebuild their houses of worship after a devastating storm – and we should help; but that doesn’t make it a job appropriate for taxpayer dollars.