Chicago Tribune--Religious groups slated for state cash

[yellowwood]

Illinois is facing a huge budget deficit yet is awarding grants to religious groups.

The sleek new Catholic high school nearing completion on Chicago's West Side boasts a chapel, modern library and computer labs.
And thanks to the recently passed public works bill, Christ the King Jesuit College Prep on West Jackson Boulevard also boasts a half-million-dollar state grant.
The taxpayer money earmarked for the private school is one of more than 100 grants to religious organizations contained in the $31 billion statewide construction program passed by the General Assembly and signed in July by Gov. Pat Quinn. Other projects listed in the 900-plus-page bill include $100,000 to Telshe Yeshiva school, which offers courses on the Talmud, Bible, prophets and Jewish law, for renovations; $700,000 to St. Malachy School for capital improvements; and $750,000 to St. Anthony W.W. Temple for costs associated with capital improvements.


http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-church-state-money13oct13,0,3398849.story

[HereSince1628]

1. Anyone know what the W.W. is for at St. Anthony's Temple? n/t

[SergeStorms]

2. WTF?

Has the boundary between church and state been completely eradicated? :banghead:

The world has gone completely mad.

[Lerkfish]

3. but its for the construction work, right?

that's what it appears to me at first skim.

if so, its benefitting the construction companies as well as the religious groups. -- which is a good thing for the economy.

Unless I'm missing something

[madrchsod]

5. the public schools in chicago desperately need the funds

if a religious/private school need money do`t ask the taxpayers of Illinois to provide them.

i think i`ll vote for the greens next year...at least none of them are corrupt.

[Lerkfish]

6. ah, ok, that makes more sense, then.

[Mari333]

14. I swear thats how I feel now.

[yellowwood]

7. missing something

States should practice separation of church and state. There are plenty of public schools that could benefit from funds for construction. I prefer that my tax money not be used to support religious groups.
I have nothing against religion in general. It's a private thing. It's like having your own private swimming pool. You have a perfect right to it, but why should I help pay for it?
Also, there are plenty of religious groups that are really extremists. How should the state decide which ones are worthy if they support some?

[Lerkfish]

8. yeah, I posted without giving it a lot of thought.

thanks, and sorry about that.

[madrchsod]

4. that`s really nice..while public schools in chicago and elsewhere...

funding for various programs are being cut and we are giving our taxes to private schools. that is really nice of "reformer quinn"....

illinois politics suck..there is`t anyone that can`t be bought.

[Critters2]

9. Our high school teachers are on strike, over the issue of health insurance,

and some (probably wealthy) Jesuit school gets a state grant. Nice.

[madrchsod]

11. i read about the strike...

here i thought quinn was a "reformer"....

[Critters2]

12. It's been very difficult. The community is very divided, and, as if things weren't bad enough,

the school superintendent committed suicide last Sunday. His funeral was today. The strike continues.

And the state is giving funds to private schools. :sigh:

[madrchsod]

13. i noticed the division in the comment section of the morris paper....

[Mari333]

15. Morris Il? someone is on here from Morris?

[Critters2]

16. Near Morris,

Ottawa--20 miles west

[Critters2]

17. The union and board are negotiating right now. I hope the Union stands its ground. nt

[anonymous171]

10. The religious part is less offensive than the PRIVATE SCHOOL part.

Seriously, what the fuck?

[SemiCharmedQuark]

18. Yep. I don't care who operates it, if it is a private school than the private school attendees can

foot the bill.

My money should go to public schools only.