Tell Congress: No Public Funding of Churches

Tomorrow Congress is quietly attempting to sneak through a bill that would allow federal grant money to go directly to the brick and mortar rebuilding of churches and other houses of worship.

Despite its unconstitutionality, lawmakers tomorrow will consider HR 592—a bill to amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, to allow houses of worship to directly receive taxpayer dollars.

There’s a reason houses of worship are prohibited. This bill would reverse years of Supreme Court precedent and directly conflict with the First Amendment to the Constitution. Additionally, permitting public grants for churches and other houses of worship would unfairly privilege religious institutions above secular institutions, many of which are not eligible for the grants. 

This bill comes two weeks after churches were granted special exemptions from a law requiring coverage of contraceptive services.  Churches are attempting to have their cake and eat it too. They want to choose when they must comply with a law and when laws must comply with them. 

Passage of the bill would create unfair advantages for religious institutions—and in effect, a government endorsement of religion-- because these institutions are exempt from paying taxes, offering financial transparency and filing the same paperwork as secular organizations, but would still benefit from public tax dollars.

Tell Congress, not so fast! Will you send a letter to your Representative urging him or her to vote no on this bill right now?

Act NOW before it's too late!
Urge your lawmakers to vote "no" on HR 592