Trump: Churches should receive federal funding to recover from Harvey

[Right_in_Virginia]

Trump: Churches should receive federal funding to recover from Harvey
Washington Examiner, Sep 8, 2017, Diana Stancy Correll

President Trump said that Texas churches should receive disaster relief funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency as the state recovers from the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey.

"Churches in Texas should be entitled to reimbursement from FEMA Relief Funds for helping victims of Hurricane Harvey (just like others)." Trump tweeted Friday night.

Religious organizations do not typically receive federal funding. However, three churches in Texas are suing FEMA for not including them in the disaster relief funding package.

The Harvest Family Church, the Hi-Way Tabernacle and the Rockport First Assembly of God experienced damages from the hurricane. One church lost its steeple, roof, and church van, while the remaining churches experiences flood damages to their facilities, the Texas Tribune reported.

Additionally, Hi-Way Tabernacle is currently functioning as a FEMA staging center and is providing shelter for up to 70 people. They also have shared more than 8,000 emergency meals.

"The churches are not seeking special treatment; they are seeking a fair shake," the lawsuit filed Monday in the U.S. District Court for Texas's Southern District read. "And they need to know now whether they have any hope of counting on FEMA or whether they will continue to be excluded entirely from these FEMA programs."


More:  http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/trump-churches-should-receive-federal-funding-to-recover-from-harvey/article/2633907

[Cripplecreek]

No they should not.

[catfish1957]

No they should not.

Me Too.

He is quickly becoming the liberal dimocrat that we all expected.  Why as a tax payer should I fund an organization that exempt from paying taxes in the first place.  And BTW...I'm a Texan who got 31 inches of rain from Harvey.

[kevindavis007]

One thing that the 1st amendment was setup so the Government is not in the funding the Church business.  Sorry disaster or not, no funding of Churches or any religious places with taxpayer money.

[To-Whose-Benefit?]

The Constitution is not a smorgasbord.

You can't pick and choose which parts of it you like.

Cripple any part of it and you cripple the whole.

[Oceander]

If the aid is broad based, then it shouldn't matter whether an organization is a church or not. 

[Cripplecreek]

One thing that the 1st amendment was setup so the Government is not in the funding the Church business.  Sorry disaster or not, no funding of Churches or any religious places with taxpayer money.

I'm most impressed by churches who honestly abandon their tax exempt status in favor of freedom of speech.

[catfish1957]

If the aid is broad based, then it shouldn't matter whether an organization is a church or not.

No way.  Myself as a taxpayer should not have to help rebuild churches.  That's the job of the congregation.  And if their finances are not configured to handle a disaster, then too bad.

[kevindavis007]

If the aid is broad based, then it shouldn't matter whether an organization is a church or not.

What about using federal money to rebuild Mosques?

[Oceander]

What about using federal money to rebuild Mosques?

I see no problem with that either, again, if it's a broad-based aid package. 

[catfish1957]

I see no problem with that either, again, if it's a broad-based aid package.

Wow...you really said that?

[Oceander]

Wow...you really said that?

Actually, I typed it (using my thumbs on my smartphone).

[Emjay]

No they should not.

Sympathy but it's a bad precedent.

[Smokin Joe]

I see no problem with that either, again, if it's a broad-based aid package.

Seriously?

No.
Help people rebuild their lives, and they will rebuild their churches.