ACLU files suit over Louisiana church funding NEW ORLEANS — The American Civil Liberties Union and its Louisiana affiliate have filed suit in federal court against the governor and state treasurer, challenging taxpayer-financed government grants to two churches. The gifts at issue — $100,000 to the Stonewall Baptist Church in Bossier City and $20,000 to Shreveport Christian Church — are among 14 appropriations state lawmakers requested for churches in the new state operating budget signed into law last month by Gov. Kathleen Blanco. Charging that earmarking church-related grants in the state budget is unconstitutional and that the purposes of the grants are only vaguely described, the ACLU in late June asked Blanco to veto them or face a court challenge. According to the ACLU, the state in certain circumstances can give money to religious organizations for programs that provide nonreligious social services, but the First Amendment bars the government from making direct, unrestricted payments to churches. “The government cannot simply choose to subsidize its favorite houses of worship with taxpayer dollars,” Daniel Mach, director of litigation for the ACLU’s Program on Freedom of Religion and Belief, said in a statement. The ACLU also argues that the state budget calls for no oversight of how the money is spent. A spokesman for Blanco said the governor’s office had no comment on the lawsuit.
According to the ACLU, the state in certain circumstances can give money to religious organizations for programs that provide nonreligious social services, but the First Amendment bars the government from making direct, unrestricted payments to churches.
No, it doesn't.
Quoted Text
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
This doesn't say that the government cannot give money to any specific church. Actually, thinking about it now, it doesn't even say that there can't be a state religion, only that the COUNTRY cannot make an official NATIONWIDE religion. You would have to look at the STATE constitution for that. Notice "Congress shall make no law..." means that the federal congress can't What about the state legislators. Anyway, the one thing that the first amendment doesn't say, even if you agree with this idea is that they can't give money to churches. Remember, just because you give money to something doesn't make it something official. Where in this does it say "Congress shall not give money to churches?"
I can see the point of the ACLU here. Let's face it...the christians would be up in arms if the government used our tax dollar to fund a muslim, hindu or any other religious church. And anyways, what church would want the government in their business?
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
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