Federal Funds for Abstinence Group Withheld

[Southpaw Bookworm]

Wow, is it just me, or is this a tiny little victory? I wonder if the threat of IRS action, potentially to all of these faith-based efforts since most of them have elements of prosletyzing (sp?) in them, spurred HHS to action. In any case, time to send some money to the ACLU. We need them more than ever!

:applause:


The Bush administration yesterday suspended a federal grant to the Silver Ring Thing abstinence program, saying it appears to use tax money for religious activities.

Officials at the Department of Health and Human Services ordered the group to submit a "corrective action plan" if it hopes to receive an expected $75,000 grant this year.

snip

The action comes three months after the American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit against HHS, accusing the administration of using tax dollars to promote Christianity. In documents filed in federal court in Boston, the ACLU alleged that the activities, brochures and Web site of Silver Ring Thing were "permeated with religion" and use "taxpayer dollars to promote religious content, instruction and indoctrination."

Teenage graduates of the program sign a covenant "before God Almighty" to remain virgins and earn a silver ring inscribed with a Bible passage reminding them to "keep clear of sexual sin." Many of its events are held at churches.

In filings with the Internal Revenue Service, the organization describes its mission as "evangelistic ministry" with an emphasis on "evangelistic crusade planning."


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/22/AR2005082201230.html

[rodeodance]

1. "ONE"--program was unfunded--that is KEY--ONE only!!

[Southpaw Bookworm]

2. I'll take what I can get

But hopefully this action will put the fear of, well, the government, into the others.