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January 28, 2013
Should Churches Damaged by Superstorm Sandy Receive FEMA Funds?
(Updated) Cardinal Timothy Dolan: "The wind and waves did not discriminate when it came to destroying property."
Update (Feb. 13): The U.S. House of Representatives has approved legislation that will allow churches (and other houses of worship) damaged by Hurricane Sandy to apply for taxpayer-funded relief aid through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The bill is also expected to pass the Senate, according to Religion News Service.
According to The Hill, the House bill "would amend the Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to include houses of worship in the list of non-profit groups that are eligible for federal disaster aid."
FEMA's current policy does not allow churches, synagogues, and mosques to receive federal aid, although religiously affiliated groups may apply.
The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty weighed in on the issue earlier today, calling FEMA's current policy unconstitutional and discriminatory.
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With the U.S. Senate set to vote today on an additional $50.5 billion in disaster relief funds for victims of Superstorm Sandy, damaged churches are hoping to convince lawmakers to let them apply for aid.
Currently, America's separation of church and state prevents churches and religious institutions from receiving public funds, even if those funds are used to repair damage caused by natural disasters. Jewish synagogues and politicians have been leading the complaints against the allegedly unfair allocation of federal disaster relief. But according to a recent op-ed in the Wall Street Journal, "hundreds of [Catholic and Christian] houses of worship were damaged by Sandy," including at least 200 Catholic parishes.
"'The wind and waves did not discriminate when it came to destroying property,'" Cardinal Timothy Dolan, archbishop of the Catholic Diocese of New York, told the WSJ. "'The houses of worship are the very bedrock of the neighborhoods now trying to rebuild. To not offer natural disaster assistance grants to rebuild a house of worship just doesn't make any sense.'"
Senator Joseph Lieberman introduced an amendment to the Hurricane Sandy recovery appropriations bill which says "houses of worship that were damaged or destroyed deserve federal assistance," according to a statement from the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights,which supports the bill.
CT reported on Superstorm Sandy, including how the disaster united NYC churches and how Christian recovery efforts spotlighted the surge in Southern Baptist church plants in New England.
In 2005, CT extensively reported on Hurricane Katrina, including the volunteer heroes of the disaster response, many of whom stayed to help even at great personal risk.
Comments
When churches and priest start paying taxes maybe then we should allow them to get FEMA aid (my tax money) but only if they pay for the mandated flood insurance.
Posted By: Mr. Mike | January 28, 2013 10:54 AM
Mike, you DO know that your tax money is being used to build mosques around the world, right? Also, in the beginning of our country, tax money was used to put a Bible in every classroom, in fact, it was insisted upon. John Hancock, the first signer of the Declaration of Independence said something that could apply today:
"Resistance to tyranny becomes the Christian and social duty of each individual. ... Continue steadfast and, with a proper sense of your dependence on God, nobly defend those rights which heaven gave, and no man ought to take from us."
--History of the United States of America, Vol. II, p. 229.
George Washington wrote:
"While we are zealously performing the duties of good citizens and soldiers, we certainly ought not to be inattentive to the higher duties of religion. To the distinguished character of Patriot, it should be our highest glory to add the more distinguished character of Christian."
--The Writings of Washington, pp. 342-343.
As for the other person who said government should never be disobeyed, does he believe that about the Germans who operated the gas chambers? Most of the German army consisted of fighters, like our army, but a few with no conscience, followed horrifying orders. Here is a response from GotQuestions.org regarding breaking the law if it is against God's law:
“Is there a time when we should intentionally disobey the laws of the land?” The answer to that question may be found in Acts 5:27-29, “Having brought the apostles, they made them appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. 'We gave you strict orders not to teach in this Name,' he said. 'Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man's blood.' Peter and the other apostles replied: ‘We must obey God rather than men!'“ From this, it is clear that as long as the law of the land does not contradict the law of God, we are bound to obey the law of the land. As soon as the law of the land contradicts God's command, we are to disobey the law of the land and obey God's law. However, even in that instance, we are to accept the government’s authority over us. This is demonstrated by the fact that Peter and John did not protest being flogged, but instead rejoiced that they suffered for obeying God (Acts 5:40-42).
Killing babies and paying for it, here, and around the world, is against God's law, and "obamacare" should be ignored. His "care" is about killing. We help kill 9 month old "fetuses" here and in China, and everywhere else where our money can be spent.
Posted By: stacy | January 28, 2013 2:03 PM
Sorry, you don't pay into the system, all the while breaking the rules that allow you to stay out of the system, you don't reap the benefits.
Posted By: ErikwithaK | February 4, 2013 7:36 PM
Christians and religious people do pay taxes just like everyone else. Should we have to pay them twice? As non-profit organizations who give billions of dollars away every year helping our fellow man, I don't think so... but that's just my humble opinion. I pray God's blessing on those who do not understand.
Posted By: Linda Webster | February 14, 2013 12:42 PM
The first amendment is clearly designed to provide freedom OF religion, not freedom FROM religion. If federal tax dollars are being used to repair other non-profits, there's no reason they shouldn't be used to repair churches - and synagogues and mosques and temples.
Posted By: Ken Smith | February 14, 2013 2:47 PM
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