Stop Faith Based Bailout, Government Rebuilding of Churches & Voucher Schemes for Religious Schools!

In the wake of the Gulf Coast disaster, legislation has been introduced that would “reimburse” religion-based groups for their “charitable” works in the area; use taxpayer funds to rebuild churches and properties owned by religious groups; and fund religious schools through an ambitious and unconstitutional voucher scheme.

* A multi-billion dollar appropriations bill S 1765 introduced by Sen. Mary Landrieu (LA) “Ensures that religious organizations will not be denied federal assistance in repairing, restoring, reconstructing or replacing their facilities following damage or destruction of those facilities as a result of Hurricane Katrina.” (Section on “Emergency Preparedness and Response, Hurricane Katrina Disaster Relief and Economic Recovery Act,” Highlights prepared by Office of Sen. Mary L. Landrieu).

The bill is currently in the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance.

* Ignoring Congress and the courts, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has announced that it will be reimbursing churches and other religious groups that have been operating relief programs throughout the Gulf Coast area. According to the Washington Post (“FEMA Plans to Reimburse Faith Groups for Aid” by Alan Cooperman and Elizabeth Williamson, September 27, 2005):

“FEMA officials said it would mark the first time that the government has made large-scale payments to religious groups for helping to cope with a domestic natural disaster.”

* The Bush Administration is exploiting the devastating consequences of Katrina and Rita to engage in dangerous “faith-based” social experimentation by promoting vouchers and other aid to religious schools. Nearly $500 million dollars in taxpayer money would establish “the nation’s largest school voucher program” (Palm Beach Post newspaper, 9/28/05). The scheme would provide “scholarships” of up to $7,500 per family to subsidize student tuition at private and religious schools. This comes at a time, say critics, when cash-strapped public schools (which cannot discriminate and open their doors to all students) are in dire need of funding.

Currently, the biggest voucher experiment is taking place in Florida. According to the Post and other sources, these church-run schools “have little academic or financial oversight,” and are riddled with other problems.

The Religious Right is using the Hurricane disasters
to circumvent our Constitution, erode separation of
church & state, and “bail out” religious groups that bragged
about their charitable “good works.”

Congress Need to Hear from You NOW!
Let’s Stop the Faith-Based Bailout!

• READ the American Atheist Press Release.
• CONTACT your elected representatives now! We especially urge you to let your U.S. Senators know that you oppose S. 1765, which amounts to a public “bailout” for churches and other houses of worship.
• TELL CONGRESS that you oppose any “reimbursement” schemes for religious that compel Americans – including millions of Atheists, Freethinkers, Humanists and other nonbelievers – to “pick up the tab” for religious groups that were boasting about their “charitable relief efforts.”
• VISIT our Tips on Contacting Congress section.
• Talking Points:
  • Using government (i.e., public) taxpayer money to reimburse private religious groups is unfair and unconstitutional.
  • In this “emergency,” there is little financial accountability. This invites fraud and fiscal irresponsibility.
  • Spending billions of dollars for social experiments such as vouchers deprives the public schools of badly needed funds. Private religious schools may discriminate when it comes to admissions and hiring policies (unlike public schools which educate all youngsters!).
  • Religious groups often blend religious proselytizing with their “relief” and charitable programs. Subsidizing these programs amounts to government funding of religion.
• Send copies of your e-mail or letters and any responses to American Atheists and we will post them, along with any responses.
• Distribute this action alert, share copies with your friends!

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