Comments on: Harold Ford, Jr. http://friendlyatheist.com/2006/09/30/harold-ford-jr/ Atheism with Positivity Mon, 23 Nov 2009 06:19:54 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: RFL http://friendlyatheist.com/2006/09/30/harold-ford-jr/comment-page-1/#comment-600 RFL Sat, 07 Oct 2006 21:07:03 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2006/09/30/harold-ford-jr/#comment-600 Though Americans United expressed concern about the $150,000 support for the convention, the lawsuit they actually filed concerned additional government funding ($297,500) for the Baptist group's "Bags of Love" religious outreach. There is a big difference between expressing concern and taking the time, effort, and expense to file a lawsuit. You can view the Americans United press release announcing the lawsuit: Americans United Lawsuit Challenges Baltimore City Funding Of Baptist Outreach Program http://www.au.org/site/News2?abbr=pr&page=NewsArticle&id=8275&security=1002&news_iv_ctrl=1947 Americans United's suit contested the use of city funds specifically earmarked for the Baptist group to hand out food and Bibles to the poor. Government sponsorship of social services is not unconstitutional. Government funding for the promotion of religion is. As Rev. Lynn stated in the press release, "Feeding the hungry is a commendable governmental undertaking, but using public funds to hand out Bibles and religious tracts is not. This city appropriation clearly violates the separation of church and state." Happily, the court agreed, and ordered that there be no evangelizing of any kind with government funds. Though Americans United expressed concern about the $150,000 support for
the convention, the lawsuit they actually filed concerned additional government
funding ($297,500) for the Baptist group’s “Bags of Love” religious
outreach. There is a big difference between expressing concern and
taking the time, effort, and expense to file a lawsuit.

You can view the Americans United press release announcing the lawsuit:

Americans United Lawsuit Challenges Baltimore City Funding Of Baptist
Outreach Program
http://www.au.org/site/News2?abbr=pr&page=NewsArticle&id=8275&security=1002&news_iv_ctrl=1947

Americans United’s suit contested the use of city funds specifically
earmarked for the Baptist group to hand out food and Bibles to the poor.
Government sponsorship of social services is not unconstitutional.
Government funding for the promotion of religion is. As Rev. Lynn
stated in the press release, “Feeding the hungry is a commendable
governmental undertaking, but using public funds to hand out Bibles and
religious tracts is not. This city appropriation clearly violates the
separation of church and state.” Happily, the court agreed, and ordered
that there be no evangelizing of any kind with government funds.

]]> By: Gary Aknos http://friendlyatheist.com/2006/09/30/harold-ford-jr/comment-page-1/#comment-596 Gary Aknos Fri, 06 Oct 2006 15:14:30 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2006/09/30/harold-ford-jr/#comment-596 Barry Lynn is a hypocrite. In June, Lynn spoke out against the National Baptist Congress of Christian Education because it received $150,000 to help cover transportation costs from the State of Maryland. In the same month, Lynn's own denomination, the United Church of Christ, received $100,000 to help defray the costs of the convention center hosting their convention. Details at: http://www.ucctruths.com/Archive/2006JuneArchive.html#au Barry Lynn is simply being partisan and he's using the separation of church and state as the means for his partisanship. Barry Lynn is a hypocrite. In June, Lynn spoke out against the National Baptist Congress of Christian Education because it received $150,000 to help cover transportation costs from the State of Maryland. In the same month, Lynn’s own denomination, the United Church of Christ, received $100,000 to help defray the costs of the convention center hosting their convention.

Details at: http://www.ucctruths.com/Archive/2006JuneArchive.html#au

Barry Lynn is simply being partisan and he’s using the separation of church and state as the means for his partisanship.

]]>