wfn.org | Edgar urges caution in US reimbursing of churches

["NCC News" <pjenks@ncccusa.org>]

Edgar urges FEMA to use caution
in reimbursing faith-based groups
 
Washington, D.C., September 30, 2005 -- The General Secretary of the National
Council of Churches USA has urged caution on the issue of whether the Federal
Emergency Management Agency should reimburse faith-based groups for their
efforts to aid victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

The Washington Post reported Tuesday that FEMA has decided to reimburse
religious organizations that have provided shelter, food and supplies for
hurricane victims. FEMA's decision marks the first time taxpayer money has
been used to make payments to faith-based groups following natural
calamities.

However, the Rev. Dr. Bob Edgar pointed out Friday that such reimbursements
"could easily upset the delicate balance that is the separation of church and
state."

It would be too easy, Edgar said, to cross the line of reimbursing churches
and faith-based groups that assisted in the recovery "to actually funding the
church with tax money."

FEMA's plan "raises all sorts of questions," and Edgar urged the agency to
follow the biblical mandate to "abstain from every form of evil" (1
Thessalonians 5:22) and avoid threatening the separation of church and state.

Edgar's complete statement:

The Federal Emergency Management Agency?s (FEMA) decision to reimburse
religious organizations for aiding victims of hurricanes Katrina and Rita
could easily upset the delicate balance that is the separation of church and
state. While on the surface this decision is not bad in and of itself, it
makes us pause because of the ease in which the line could be crossed?moving
reimbursement from supplementing recovery funds to actually funding the
church with tax money. 
 
FEMA?s plan also raises all sorts of questions: Should the government
reimburse churches for doing what they do? What criteria will be established
in order for churches to qualify for reimbursement? What about accountability
for how the money is spent? If I give a local church $1,000 for actions, and
the government also gives $1,000; does this replace the contributions that
have already been raised, or does it add more to the recovery effort, or does
it go into the church's reserves? 
 
1 Thessalonians 5:22 says, "Abstain from every form of evil." We strongly
urge President Bush and FEMA to heed this biblical mandate as it pertains to
the recovery efforts. Tragedies like hurricanes Katrina and Rita and the
Asian tsunami need non-partisan, bipartisan, collaborative responses that cut
across political and theological lines and do not threaten the separation of
church and state. Attempts to exploit these tragedies for political gain or
to advance a political agenda are a sin and unconscionable. 

The National Council of Churches is composed of 35 Protestant, Anglican,
Orthodox, historic African American and peace communions representing 45
million Christians in 100,000 local congregations in the United States.

Contact NCCNews: Leslie Tune, 202-544-2350, ltune@ncccusa.org; Philip E.
Jenks, 212-870-2252, pjenks@ncccusa.org