The Chicago Daily Observer reports on the lack of separation of church and state in Illinois:
You may have missed it, but Illinois is in a budget crisis. No really, Governor Quinn was campaigning to raise taxes, release 6,000 prisoners, and cut 2,600 state employees. Governor Quinn already has cut $50 Million from the Illinois Department of Human Services, laying off 1,075 employees and slashing care to more than 17,000 low-income children and teens struggling with mental illness, homelessness or both.
So it may come as some surprise to you that, lo and behold, the State of Illinois has $31 Billion available for “capital” projects. Yes, that is $31 Billion, in some sort of found money, or $2,384 for every man, woman and child in Illinois. Gov. Quinn signed the spending bill yesterday claiming “This is jobs. This is Illinois recovery. We’ve got to get our economy back on track”. The Republicans generally concurred, with the bill easily passing the Illinois Senate. with bipartisan support.
Illinois Review reports on the money for churches from Illinois taxpayers:
there's lots of churches who will be given hundreds of thousands of dollars to make improvements on their facilities. Christian Love Missionary Baptist Church will get $250,000, Bethel Lutheran Church will get $200,000, Haven of Rest Missionary Baptist Church will get $400,000, Mt. Vernon Baptist Church will get $200,000 to upgrade its kitchen and Our Lady of Peace in Chicago will get $45,000 to improve accessibility.
You say how can that be constitutional? Here's the Illinois
Constitution on giving money to churches:
SECTION 3. RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
The free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession
and worship, without discrimination, shall forever be
guaranteed, and no person shall be denied any civil or
political right, privilege or capacity, on account of his
religious opinions; but the liberty of conscience hereby
secured shall not be construed to dispense with oaths or
affirmations, excuse acts of licentiousness, or justify
practices inconsistent with the peace or safety of the State.
No person shall be required to attend or support any ministry
or place of worship against his consent, nor shall any
preference be given by law to any religious denomination or
mode of worship.
When
Rod Blagojevich can make it to the top, anything is possible in the state of Illinois. Will
these people follow the law or any constitution? Don't bet on it. Could you imagine what the MSM would say: if these churches getting money where white , evangelical churches with registered Republicans?
