Post by Daniel on Sept 27, 2017 9:15:06 GMT -5
It’s Time to Stop Discriminating against Churches in Disaster Relief Funding
By ACLJ.org
Christian charity has been the greatest financial force for good the world has ever known, yet churches are being penalized and discriminated against in providing vital aid to those in the most need after some of the worst natural disasters we’ve ever witnessed in America.
When natural disasters strike, churches and other houses of worship often serve as a place of refuge. They provide shelter, food, water, and basic necessities to those who have been affected by severe weather events such as hurricanes, tornadoes, tropical storms, and earthquakes.
Recently, Texas and Florida have both been hit by disastrous hurricanes of massive and devastating proportions. Hurricanes Harvey and Irma have proven to be among the most destructive hurricanes to make landfall in the United States in recent history. In fact, 2017 is the first time “in recorded hurricane history . . . two category-4 hurricanes . . . slammed into the United States during the same year.” Hurricane-battered Texas and Florida need disaster relief help now more than ever, and churches are playing a critical role in providing that relief.
Unfortunately, regulations from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are making it hard for churches to be as effective as they are capable. Specifically, houses of worship are currently ineligible to apply for FEMA Public Assistance grants, which are used to repair or replace damaged non-profit buildings and facilities. This inequity is hindering participating churches from assisting at their maximum capacity during a time of extreme need.
more
aclj.org/religious-liberty/its-time-to-stop-discriminating-against-churches-in-disaster-relief-funding
By ACLJ.org
Christian charity has been the greatest financial force for good the world has ever known, yet churches are being penalized and discriminated against in providing vital aid to those in the most need after some of the worst natural disasters we’ve ever witnessed in America.
When natural disasters strike, churches and other houses of worship often serve as a place of refuge. They provide shelter, food, water, and basic necessities to those who have been affected by severe weather events such as hurricanes, tornadoes, tropical storms, and earthquakes.
Recently, Texas and Florida have both been hit by disastrous hurricanes of massive and devastating proportions. Hurricanes Harvey and Irma have proven to be among the most destructive hurricanes to make landfall in the United States in recent history. In fact, 2017 is the first time “in recorded hurricane history . . . two category-4 hurricanes . . . slammed into the United States during the same year.” Hurricane-battered Texas and Florida need disaster relief help now more than ever, and churches are playing a critical role in providing that relief.
Unfortunately, regulations from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are making it hard for churches to be as effective as they are capable. Specifically, houses of worship are currently ineligible to apply for FEMA Public Assistance grants, which are used to repair or replace damaged non-profit buildings and facilities. This inequity is hindering participating churches from assisting at their maximum capacity during a time of extreme need.
more
aclj.org/religious-liberty/its-time-to-stop-discriminating-against-churches-in-disaster-relief-funding
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