posted on Feb, 13 2009 @ 06:22 AM
NOTE - THAT'S THE TITLE OF THE ARTICLE. NOT MY TITLE.
Story Here
Hidden in the wording of Obama's non-stiumulating 'stimulus' is the fact that money from this bill is banned from being designated to
facility/school renovation to any school or facility that allows "religious worship.". This is being called a violation of the First Amendment
According to the bill, which the Democratic-controlled House passed despite unanimous Republican opposition, funds are prohibited from being used
for the "modernization, renovation, or repair" of facilities that allow "sectarian instruction, religious worship or a school or department of
divinity."
Critics say that could include public schools that permit religious groups to meet on campus. The House provided $20 billion for the infrastructure
improvements, of which $6 billion would go to higher education facilities where the limitations would be applied.
The founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel, a Washington-based nonprofit organization that works to advance religious freedom, says "President
Obama's version of faith-based initiatives is to remove the faith from initiative,"
Other secular groups have applauded the bill and say that it doesn't violate the Constitution.
Complaints will be filed, but the experts who were contacted for this story say that the compliants wont go far in court.
I remember when I was a kid maaaaaaaaaaaaany moons ago, our CCD classes and the sunday schools from the different churches would meet in the public
school in town. It was a small town and all the facilities shared. The churches used the schools for sunday school and CCD. And when there were
renovations in the public schools, the churches opened their halls and basement meeting rooms for the school to hold classes in.
That's not unusual activity for a small town. At least, it wasn't back then.
According to Obama's non-stimulating stimulus, these schools would be ineligible for money from the package because they allow prayer. I'm pretty
sure that the Air Force Academy and the Naval Academy also have prayer in the buildings. Does that mean they would be ineligible?
Immediate edit to fix title
[edit on 2/13/2009 by FlyersFan]