House GOP Investigates State Department Atheism Grants

American courts consider Humanism to be a religion. Biden Administration overseas programs are being funded that promote/protect humanism and atheism. Some House GOPers are calling for an investigation as to the legality of such programs being funded by tax payers. I have two comments -

- I don't know if the GOPers would be having a problem with this if it were funding Christian groups and helping to protect them. I admit I do wonder about that.

- WHY are we sending our tax money overseas on this crap? We have 1/5 of all children in the USA going to bed hungry and elderly people freezing in their homes because they can't afford heat in the winter. We should be taking care of AMERICANS and not funding overseas humanist groups.

Real Clear Politics - House GOP Investigates State Department Atheism Grants

Rep. Mike McCaul, a Texas Republican who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Rep. Chris Smith, a New Jersey Republican who heads the panel’s human rights subcommittee, are reviving a nearly year-long inquiry into a 2021 State Department grant they say is designed to expand the influence of atheists and humanists in the Middle East and North Africa.

The GOP House members argue that the program could be violating the Establishment Clause of the Constitution, which bars the use of tax dollars to promote theocracy or a specific religion.

“We write once again to ask why it is in America’s interest to promote atheism overseas and why the department refuses to provide certain documents that shed light on that misguided decision,” they wrote.

The trio specifically took issue with the State Department’s April 2021 decision to solicit bids for a $500,000 grant titled “Promoting and Defending Religious Freedom Inclusive of Atheist, Humanist, Non-Practicing and Non-Affiliated Individuals.” The funding notification states that the recipients’ programs should be designed to impact two to three countries across South and Central Asia or the Middle East and North Africa.

Lawmakers Investigating Biden Funding Spread of Atheism Abroad - Christian Post

Republican members of Congress have expressed concern over the Biden administration’s apparent funding of an international organization that seeks to advance atheism overseas.

Reps. Michael McCaul of Texas, chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee; Chris Smith of New Jersey, chair of the Subcommittee on Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations; and Brian Mast of Florida, chair of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Accountability sent a letter earlier this month expressing concerns that the administration is funding efforts to spread atheism abroad.

They specifically referenced a 2021 Notice of Funding Opportunity program titled “Promoting and Defending Religious Freedom Inclusive of Atheist, Humanist, Non-Practicing and Non-Affiliated Individuals.”

One of the program outcomes listed in the NOFO includes increasing the “capacity among members of atheist and heterodox individuals to form or join networks or organizations, implement advocacy campaigns, and to engage with the public on issues of tolerance and acceptance of all regardless of faith.”

The letter to the State Department officials claims that this violates the Bureau and OIRF’s explicit rule not to “provide funds to any organization with the aim of using such funds to promote or advance specific religious ideologies or beliefs.”

“For over half a century, the courts have considered Humanism a ‘religion’ protected under the Establishment Clause, and therefore held that Humanism may not be specifically promoted using aid money from the government.”

The congressmen explained that Humanists International, an organization that eventually received the grant, actively tries to spread atheist beliefs abroad, and works alongside groups that actively promote humanism in the United States.

a reply to: FlyersFan2

WHY are we sending our tax money overseas on this crap?

Because the motto of the Biden administration is "America last".

originally posted by: Klassified
a reply to: FlyersFan2

WHY are we sending our tax money overseas on this crap?

Because the motto of the Biden administration is "America last".

Funding atheism overseas vs helping elderly Americans not freeze to death in the winter.
I'll pick the Americans to help.

I would be asking for an independent accountability followup of where the money is and gone to. Seems like a lot of money is never accounted for, yet, we sure have a lot of rich politicians. And...why are we sending grant money out of the US anyways, especially in this area of interest?