Okay, this isn't nearly as scandalous and outrageous as we were led to believe.
First off, it would appear that a lot of the groups eligible for this money are taking a very responsible approach to this, aware that Church & State interest groups will jump on this to raise their own money and attack churches (sorry, editorial).
Secondly, it sounds like there will at least be some degree of parameters and qualifications. It doesn't sound lie a blank check to Jerry Falwell.
And I think the part of the text below is the most important:
Quote:
For some individual churches, however, reimbursement is very appealing. At Christus Victor Lutheran Church in Ocean Springs, Miss., as many as 200 evacuees and volunteer workers have been sleeping each night in the sanctuary and Sunday school classrooms. The church's entrance hall is a Red Cross reception area and medical clinic. As many as 400 people a day are eating in the fellowship hall.
Suzie Harvey, the parish administrator, said the church was asked by the Red Cross and local officials to serve as a shelter. The church's leadership agreed immediately, without anticipating that nearly a quarter of its 650 members would be rendered homeless and in no position to contribute funds. "This was just something we had to do," she said. "Later we realized we have no income coming in."
Harvey said the electric bill has skyrocketed, water is being used round-the-clock and there has been "20 years of wear on the carpet in one month." When FEMA makes money available, she said, the church definitely will apply.
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I have no doubt that a huge amount of these organizations are totally maxed out, and over capacity. Being a volunteer based charity is one thing, but being asked to serve in the place of government beyond your capacity is another.
As it states in the article, a lot of these organizations stepped in where government failed. Shouldn't they be reimbursed for that?
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