For Immediate Release: April 2, 2008
Contact: Anne Singer, 202-271-4679
Religious Groups Receive $30 Million in Earmarks
Congressional Democrats and Republicans Fund 140 Constitutionally Suspect Projects; Ten Most Egregious Published
Washington, DC - 34 U.S. Senators and 73 House Members will receive letters today informing them that federal dollars they earmarked for organizations in their home states or districts may be unconstitutional. The letters are signed by Lori Lipman Brown, Director of the DC-based Secular Coalition for America. The Coalition reviewed 24 Congressional appropriations committee reports for fiscal year (FY) 2008 and found over 140 earmarks that may defy the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The $30 million in earmarks were in the budget bill signed by President Bush on December 26, 2007. A copy of the letter asking members to be more vigilant in selecting groups that receive federal funds is here.
"These earmarks may be common," said Brown, "but our research shows they can be downright unconstitutional." The Coalition is sharing its findings with the American Humanist Association and the Freedom From Religion Foundation, the two members of the Secular Coalition for America that engage in litigation. The earmarked funds include colleges and universities, youth service programs, addiction recovery programs and community development ministries. "Americans, regardless of their personal religious beliefs, should be outraged that their tax dollars are being used to convert some of their fellow citizens and to discriminate against others. The simple fact is that taxpayer money is being used to promote religion."
Fifty-two percent of the 140 constitutionally suspect earmarks in the study were sponsored by Republicans, 42 percent were sponsored by Democrats and 6 percent were bi-partisan. The 10 most egregious earmarks to religious organizations, described in their own words and with their Congressional sponsors, are below.
Recipient: World Impact Ministries St. Louis Headquarters
Sponsor: Senator Kit Bond, R-MO
Amount: $750,000 for renovations
Mission/description: A "Christian missions organization dedicated to ministering God's love in the inner cities of America. Its purpose is to honor and glorify God and delight in Him in the inner cities by knowing God and making Him known."
Recipient: International Fellowship of Chaplains
Sponsor: Representative Paul Gillmor, R-OH (died 9/5/2007; succeeded by Robert Latta)
Amount: $200,000 for participants in the Road to Hope Training Program for Chaplains
Mission/description: To "provide counsel, education, advocacy, life improvement skills and recovery training, providing a bridge between the secular and spiritual environments of community life throughout the world."
Recipient: Lower East Side Conservancy
Sponsor: Representative Carolyn Maloney, D-NY
Amount: $200,000
Mission/description: Provides "fundraising and technical support to the synagogues to meet their physical and other needs" and the "preservation and promotion of Jewish culture on New York's Lower East Side."
Recipient: Goodwill Rescue Mission
Sponsor: Senator Frank Lautenberg, D-NJ
Amount: $200,000 for renovations
Mission/description: "To share the love of God in Jesus Christ with needy of northern New Jersey by providing food, clothing, shelter, spiritual guidance and instruction."
Recipient: Morning Star Ranch
Sponsor: Senator Sam Brownback, R-KS
Amount: $850,000 for construction and renovations
Mission/description: A "Christian training center." "Following the example of Jesus and in the spirit of 2 Timothy 2:2, the Ranch disciples young men from inner cities across America."
Recipient: Wildwood Ranch
Sponsor: Representative John Conyers, D-MI
Amount: $300,000
Mission/description: "To share the joy of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ with inner-city children and youth" during camps.
Recipient: Northwest Nazarene University
Amount: $350,000 research and/or facilities
Sponsors: Senators Larry Craig, R-ID and Mike Crapo, R-ID
Mission/description: "The development of Christian character within the philosophy and framework of genuine scholarship and to serve the church;" school motto "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God."
Recipient: Grace College
Amount: $450,000
Sponsor: Representative Mark Souder, R-IN
Mission/description: "Committed to the classical and defining doctrines of historic Christianity and affirms the inerrancy of Scripture and the moral, spiritual, and historical authority of the Bible;" admission requires a "faith statement and spiritual life reference;" requires "regular attendance at chapel and Sunday services".
Recipient: Quinn Chapel
Amount: $150,000 for renovation
Sponsor: Representative Danny Davis, D-IL
Mission/description: "Celebrating God’s presence, rebirth and unity with a purpose." "Good stewardship and financial accountability are maintained by conducting the business of the church in alignment with the Word of God."
Recipient: New Hope Academy
Amount: $150,000 to promote addiction treatment for low income families
Sponsor: Representative Christopher Carney, D-PA
Mission/description: Christian Boarding School for young men: "primarily uses Accelerated Christian Education's Pace courses;" prohibits "printed material and music that are not conducive to Christian growth;" application requires church and pastor name and contact information.
The Secular Coalition for America is the national lobby for atheists, humanists, freethinkers and other nontheistic Americans with the unique mission of protecting their civil rights. From our office in the nation's capital, our full-time lobbyist and support staff engage public policy makers and the media to increase the visibility and respectability of nontheistic viewpoints and to protect and strengthen the secular character of our government as the best guarantee of freedom for all. Information is at www.secular.org.
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