AU Urges Attorney General to Act On Unlawful ‘Earmark’ Funding Of Nine Religious Institutions

[and-justice-for-all]

June 24, 2009

Church-State Watchdog Group Asks U.S. Department Of Justice To Cut Off

Americans United for Separation of Church and State today asked U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to terminate or investigate nine federal grants awarded to faith-based groups that proselytize and that discriminate in hiring.

In the 2008 fiscal year, Congress approved earmarks that directed the U.S. Department of Justice to award grants to these religious organizations. The Department of Justice, under the Bush administration, approved the constitutionally dubious funding without conducting anything more than a cursory review.

Now Americans United, in a letter to Holder, has asked for that Bush-era decision to be reversed.

“In providing these grants, the U.S. Department of Justice is unconstitutionally aiding religion,” said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, Americans United’s executive director. “There’s no reason why organizations that evangelize or that discriminate in hiring on religious grounds should ever receive a penny from the government, let alone millions of dollars.”
Added AU Senior Litigation Counsel Alex J. Luchenitser, “The Bush administration approved these grants, paying no heed to their grave constitutional defects. I hope that the Obama administration discontinues this unlawful funding of religion and reviews future proposed grants to faith-based institutions much more carefully....”

more: http://www.au.org/media/press-releases/archives/2009/06/au-urges-attorney-general-to.html

[pkdu]

1. What business does the Dept of Justice have giving ANY funding to ANYONE

..another example of Bush Bullshit .

[JackRiddler]

2. First four on the list...

# Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries, Detroit, Mich., ($490,000 Juvenile Justice Grant) obtained the public funding to run an eight-weekend “challenge course” for at-risk youth. In its grant application, the Mission stated that it would incorporate Bible studies in the course, and the Mission’s Web site shows that proselytizing is integral to Mission programs. The Mission also discriminates in hiring, requiring as a qualification “ profession of personal faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.”

# Albany Teen Challenge, Albany, N.Y., ($47,000 Juvenile Justice Grant) obtained the federal grant to run several drug-prevention programs, including “Rock the Block,” during which the “word of God is shared,” “n altar call is given, Bibles are provided, and salvation cards are distributed.” The ministry has a policy of hiring only Christians and obtained part of the funding to pay salaries of staff responsible for implementing “Rock the Block.”

# Central Indiana Teen Challenge, Lebanon, Ind., ($94,000 Juvenile Justice Grant) obtained the funding for its “Girl’s Transition to Education and Community Program.” The group states that its mission is to “giv young girls a second chance… through God’s transforming grace” and “dedicated pastoral counseling.” According to the group’s Web site, it achieves this mission “hrough consistent Bible study, prayer and personal accountability” and “students are encouraged to apply the truths of God’s Word to their thoughts and actions in everyday life.”

# Minnesota Teen Challenge, Minneapolis, Minn., ($235,000 Juvenile Justice Grant) obtained the grant to expand its “Know the Truth” drug-prevention program. As part of the program, pre-teen participants hear personal stories from graduates of Teen Challenge’s residential drug treatment program. That program requires church attendance and participation in daily devotionals, Bible reading and prayer, and its graduates tell “Know the Truth” participants how they beat addiction through religious awakening. Teen Challenge also discriminates on the basis of religion in hiring staff for the “Know the Truth” program.

[immoderate]

4. Scams...

I would like to see a follow-up on recidivism for these programs.

--imm

[alstephenson]

3. k & r

[eppur_se_muova]

5. How many of these employ Neil Bu**sh** as a consultant? nt