Homosexual Group in Georgia Receives

Faith-Based Community Group Grant
By Sue Ella Deadwyler

Of Georgia Eagle Forum

July 3, 2003

Over a year ago, on February 25, 2002 I warned about H.B. 1407 that authorized tax grants to religious institutions.  That idea caught on because President Bush campaigned on giving tax money to faith-based initiatives.  As President, he established the program through an executive order that went into effect December 2002.

His plan allows organizations to receive federal tax money sent to states that distribute it to charities, churches and other religious institutions to fund social services.

 H.B. 1407 had to be carefully worded because the state constitution prohibits religious institutions from receiving state taxes, but state employees can distribute federal grant money to religious organizations.  So, passing H.B. 1407 cleared the way for the state to handle President Bush's faith-based initiative grants.

This is what the state constitution allows.  State and local taxes may not be given directly or indirectly to religious institutions but the General Assembly may pass laws allowing state and local governments to participate in federal programs and comply with related federal law.  State and local governments serve as middle men that handle federal grants and contracts with charitable religious institutions.  That, seemingly, circumvents the constitutional prohibition against taxes going to religious institutions because they don't get state taxes.  Also, state and local governments don't give the money.  They administer it.

This is the set-up.  H.B. 1407 passed last year to allow Georgia to take advantage of faith-based initiative grants available last December.  The results are beginning to surface.  In Savannah, Georgia a homosexual group called First City Network had a professional write a proposal for a grant under the Community and Faith-based Initiative Program.  The grant was sent to Concurrent Technologies Corporation that handles Community and Faith-based grants for South Carolina and coastal Georgia.  The grant was approved and First City Network received $4,000.

 The grant writer explained that he was not surprised that the homosexual group got the grant.  After all, he said, "Keep in mind that the grant is community based and faith based.  [First City Network] is a community-based organization that is faith-based because they are located in a church."  Please notice that he said the organization was faith-based simply because its resource center is located in the Unitarian Universalist Church in Savannah.

 That means my federal and state taxes support this group of homosexuals whose leaders say the money will be used to teach homosexuals how to write a resume, fill out an application, maintain a gay identity and still be employed.  Although First City Network didn't get state taxes, they did get federal taxes you and I pay and administrators of the grants are state personnel whose salaries are paid with tax money from you and me.  I strenuously object!