House passes bill to give disaster relief to religious groups

[cbayer]

http://www.religionnews.com/2013/02/13/house-passes-bill-to-give-disaster-relief-to-religious-groups/

(RNS) The House Wednesday (Feb. 13) overwhelmingly passed a bill to allow places of worship to receive federal aid to repair their buildings damaged during Hurricane Sandy.

The bill, which garnered strong bipartisan support, is also expected to pass the Senate, and would address what its sponsors consider a discriminatory practice that keeps federal disaster money from religious groups.

Currently the Federal Emergency Management Agency excludes religious organizations but assists privately owned nonprofits. If the bill becomes law, it will make houses of worship eligible for relief on the same terms as other nonprofits.

“Today’s debate and vote is about those who are being unfairly left out and left behind,” Christopher Smith, R-N.J., one of the bill’s lead sponsors, told his House colleagues.

more at link

[peace13]

1. Keep the government out of my church...

unless it is delivering a check!

[Livluvgrow]

2. ah

So they pay no taxes but get to put their hand in the till

[Angry Dragon]

3. +180

[cbayer]

8. The issue here is that they are providing aid to other 501(3)c non-profits that

also pay no taxes, but had a policy which singled religious organizations out.

[meeshrox]

4. And yet, after how many months

republicans resisted passing relief for all Sandy victims!

Why do churches need federal aid to repair buildings? Do they not carry insurance? Maybe I'm missing something...

[cbayer]

9. The issue appears to be that many of these organizations

"helped feed, comfort, clothe and shelter tens of thousands of victims" after the storm and were then "being told they are ineligible for a FEMA grant.”, while all other non-profits were eligible.

[meeshrox]

11. Religious institutions are not considered to provide

"essential government type services to the general public" and therefore do not qualify.

http://www.fema.gov/public-assistance-9500-series-policy-publications/private-nonprofit-facility-eligibility-0

Section 7.4.3 specifically addresses structures primarily used for religous services. If the primary use is religious worship and aid to the community is second, it should not qualify.

This is pretty cut-and-dry to me. In my opinion, they are trying to carve out special treatment yet again.

[cbayer]

12. Right, that's the FEMA rule that is being overturned by the legislature.

[meeshrox]

17. Right, and I'm saying that I disagree with changing it. nt

[cbayer]

18. I got that part. Congress disagrees with you apparently.

[meeshrox]

21. The House disagrees...

and it remains to be seen whether or not the Senate disagrees.

Happy Valentines Day!

[cbayer]

22. Happy Valentines Day to you as well, meeshrox!

[TheMastersNemesis]

5. Churches Can Have Federal Funds When They Pay Taxes. They Are Freeloaders

[cleanhippie]

6. Aren't natural disasters "acts of god?" And if so, why undo what god did?

If there is a god, and thy god destroys a church, maybe god is trying to tell us something.

[SpartanDem]

7. Betcha republicans will trying repealing it soon as a mosque applies n/t

[cbayer]

10. Betcha they don't

[peace13]

13. Think charter schools.

They were all for it until a Muslim group applied for funds and then it was a great surprise. Where does the separation of church and state begin and end. These days most folks think there is none as long as it is of Christian nature.

[cbayer]

14. That was in Florida where they *forgot* that there were other religions.

This is at the federal level. They are fully aware that this will include many religions.

[SpartanDem]

15. I would at least expect some teabagger gnashing of teeth

from the AFA and FRC types

[cbayer]

20. I doubt they will even take much notice, but they sure can't expect it

to be narrowly applied to only certain religious groups. That would be an undeniably clear violation of the 1st amendment.

[peace13]

16. Google Muslim charter school not funded.

It seems to be a rather national problem.

[cbayer]

19. A national problem, yes, but happening on a state and local level.

By changing this FEMA rule, I feel certain that they understand that it applies broadly to all religious institutions as they are described in the FEMA rule. They know better than to make any assumptions about it apply to some religions and not others (unlike state and local legislatures, apparently).