Sue Ella Deadwyler's WMVV Radio Commentary, 2/4/05

It might sound like a good idea to give tax money to religious ministries that provide social services, but beware! There are always strings attached to government money, and this is no different. All government money comes with rules and regulations that supercede religious freedom because of the false concept of "separation of church and state."

Since tax money from state or federal government is "state" money, there's no way religious ministries can take it and not have to "separate" religious practices and conversations from services funded by faith-based grants. In fact, faith-based funding will shrink religious influence in religious ministries that accept it. Right now, churches and religious ministries have the freedom to preach and teach the Bible and sing religious songs. They can hang as many religious artifacts on as many walls as they like and require the people who want their services to listen to sermons or Bible teaching. They may hire whom they please and refuse to hire those they don't want working there. But, that will change under government grants.

S.R. 49 would change the Georgia constitution so federal money can flow unhindered into religious ministries in the form of faith-based grants created by executive order of President Bush. Right now, Georgia's constitution says, "No money shall ever be taken from the public treasury, directly or indirectly, in aid of any church, sect, cult or religious denomination or of any sectarian institution." If S.R. 49 passes the General Assembly and then passes in the 2006 general election, that sentence would be deleted from the constitution to bring our constitution in line with the U.S. Constitution and allow religious ministries in Georgia to be eligible for tax money. Not only would that include mainstream denominations, it would include cults.

Let me give you something to think about. Do you want your taxes to fund the United Nuwaubian Nation of Moors in Putnam County whose leader was charged with child molestation? Would you like your taxes to support services of the Ravenwood Church and Seminary of Wicca that applied for a $85,000 grant in 2003 for "street outreach" and funding for two houses and an apartment complex for 62 people?

The Department of Community Affairs turned them down because money was short in 2003. Ravenwood is Atlanta's first public Wiccan church and claims to be "a faith-based organization dedicated to the education, science, promotion and practice of the old religion." In case you haven't heard, witchcraft is the "old religion" they claim as their faith.

They would use faith-based money to expand witchcraft, while mainstream religious ministries accepting "state" money must purge all religious symbols, Bible teaching, preaching and hymn singing from their social service programs and conversations. Christianity, in particular, would shrink and cults would expand. That's a high price to pay for a little bit of money. Ask your legislators to vote NO on S.R. 49 although it's the governor's bill. For House members telephone numbers, call 404-656-5082 or for Senators' numbers call 404-656-0028.

For more information about the Governor's Faith-Based Initiative Amendment, see last year's press release "Georgia Constitution Party Questions Faith-Based Initiative Amendment"