Stimulus in, Christians out !!

Obama's stimulus plan means that the nation goes into further debt by one TRILLION dollars, ONE TRILLION DOLLARS!! But even worse and very scary is that hidden in the stimulus bill is frightening legislation that affects all faith-based activities and church programs such as, but not limited to children's Sunday school school classes, bible studies, worship services, etc. Basically, all things Christian get booted out or LOSE FUNDING!! Obama is cunning, conniving, and deceitful! Is THIS the kind of "Change we can believe in?" --Marisela

The administration's economic stimulus bill needs a fix to avoid a courtroom confrontation.

Jay Sekulow, chief counsel of the American Center for Law & Justice, tells OneNewsNow there is a provision of the act that actually allows for funds to be given by the federal government in the form of grants for renovation of existing colleges and universities.

"But when you read a little bit further into this legislation, there's a specific prohibition on two things," the attorney explains. "One, if the university itself is a religiously based or faith-based institution, it does not qualify. And if the facility that is being renovated allows religious worship to take place, it also does not qualify."

Specifically, the provision reads that stimulus funds may not be used for "modernization, renovation, or repair of facilities -- (i) used for sectarian instruction, religious worship, or a school or department of divinity; or (ii) in which a substantial portion of the functions of the facilities are subsumed in a religious mission."

Under that provision, according to Sekulow, many schools would bar on-campus worship or even Bible study because it will put federal funding in jeopardy. That, he says, should raise a warning flag in a federal courthouse.

Jay Sekulow (Amer. Ctr. for Law & Policy)"It is unconstitutional -- and while I'm prepared to challenge it in court, and we're already working on a possibility, it really needs to be handled in the legislation," the ACLJ leader suggests. "That needs to be job one...remove this provision and get it out of the legislation."

Sekulow states that a "troubling pattern" is developing regarding the use of taxpayer money -- and that this provision is the latest example. He contrasts it with the new administration's swift move to make federal funds available for abortion-providers overseas.

"There is a priority problem in Washington," he says in a press release. "This is not what 'economic stimulus' is about. We know that the American people don't want their tax dollars used for discriminatory measures. That's why this provision must be removed now."

The attorney says if the discriminatory provision is not removed from the stimulus package and is approved and signed into law, the ACLJ will challenge it in federal court.

Stimulation of discrimination?
Mat Staver, founder of Liberty Counsel, agrees that the "anti-faith" language of the provision will censor and force people of faith from the public square.

"In order to receive stimulus money our public schools will have to expel after-school Bible clubs and weekend religious meetings," says the Christian attorney. "People who want to speak about their faith will be unwelcome in public places."

He adds that President Obama's idea of faith-based initiatives apparently is to "remove faith from all initiatives."

OBAMA SPENDING BILL STIMULATES ANTI-CHRISTIAN BIGOTRY

Rev. Lou Sheldon, from Traditional Values Coalition

explains how buried in the rubble of President Obama’s $1 trillion monstrous pork/stimulus plan is a section that bans Christian Bible studies, worship services and other religious activities from many public education buildings!

All of this is found in the “greening” (supposedly to help the environment) of our nation’s school section of the bill and to the tune of at least of $3,500,000,000. The greening funds are to be used for the “modernization, renovation or repair” of higher education facilities, but prohibit the repairs where religious activities or services may be conducted.

The economic crisis is being used as a pretext to curb religious liberty at institutions of higher learning.

The ultimate impact will be to drive religious activities out of public education altogether. If higher education institutions worry about not getting part of this federal grab bag, they’ll simply eject religious activities from their campuses so they can easily get the money.

Andrea Lafferty, TVC Executive Director is leading the fight to address this aggressive anti-Christian section in the bill. We have met with staff, organized conference calls and spent days alerting key Senators and staff to this dangerous section. We are on Capitol Hill fighting for you.

We must not let them take away our precious rights which are currently in danger. America’s current leadership seems to have lost their moral compass.

We know these are difficult financial times. But as you can see, it is vital that we remain here at the nation’s Capitol. Your religious freedoms are in grave jeopardy and we remain vigilant in protecting them for you and your family.

We need your immediate financial help today. In addition, would you please consider a regular monthly donation to Traditional Values Coalition and our efforts to safeguard your freedoms. To make a donation, click here.

This is just the beginning of the aggressive anti-Christian discrimination that we will face over the next four years. As you know, Traditional Values Coalition has led the fight over Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) and so-called hate crimes bill for the last decade. When the hate crimes vote took place last Congress, we were able--with your help--to apply enough pressure that some Members of Congress actually switched their votes. And, it was when TVC gave greater visibility to the American Psychiatric Association (APA) definition of the utterly bizarre 30 Sexual Orientations that the ENDA was derailed in the Congress. So we pray we can also defeat this.

The language in the Obama Stimulus bill (S.336, Section 803, pg 164) says:

No funds awarded under this section may be used for …

(C) modernization, renovation, or repair of facilities—

(i) used for sectarian instruction, religious worship, or a school or department of divinity; or

(ii) in which a substantial portion of the functions of the facilities are subsumed in a religious mission; or

(D) construction of new facilities.

As you can see this prohibits any private or religious school from receiving any funding under this bill, in addition to removing religious expression in public buildings.

This should be called the ACLU Full Employment Act since it will be a boon for their anti-Christian litigation. The ACLU will work to sniff out Christian activities such as Bible studies or religious services. Unless the schools banish religious activity on campus, the ACLU will surely sue these institutions for daring to allow these newly “greened” buildings to be used for religious purposes.

If this aggressive anti-Christian bigotry is allowed to remain in the bill, I predict it will soon be in the K-12 sections of this and other school funding bills. That will mean that churches can no longer meet in schools on Sundays, as well as, boy scouts and student Bible study groups.

This new administration and its secularist allies in Congress don’t accept the First Amendment’s protections of religious activity even as they cite the First Amendment to defend all sorts of bizarre and offensive speech and art.

The entire package should be rejected by the Senate. It is pork, not stimulus – and most Americans understand this.

We need your donation today so that Traditional Values Coalition can remain your vigilant watchman. To support Traditional Values Coalition today just click here.

Your voice at the Capitol,
Rev. Lou Sheldon

PS- What does $1 trillion equal?

$1 bills stacked one-third of the way to the moon or 68,000 miles into space