The Freedom From Religion Foundation, a national watchdog group working to keep state and church separate, is prepared to sue if Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich makes good on his pledge of $1 million in state money to help restore Pilgrim Baptist Church.
It is unconstitutional to tax citizens to support a place of worship,” said Annie Laurie Gaylor, co-president of the Foundation. “That is a basic tenet of our secular government–even in an election year.”
Blagojevich announced on Jan. 9 his pledge of $1 million in tax subsidy, following a Jan. 6 fire apparently caused during reroofing, in which workers sealed the coping with a blowtorch.
After church leaders announced plans to rebuild, Blagojevich, who is running for reelection, publicly awarded a state grant to rebuild what he termed “non-church” portions of the African-American church, such as the administration building, which houses an unrelated school that rents from the church.
Money is fungible, Gaylor added.
“This unprecedented public subsidy would free up a million dollars Pilgrim Baptist Church could put toward rebuilding the church itself or for any other religious purpose.”
Also puzzling is the need for a rebuilding fund:
“Surely this church insured its facility!”
Attorney James A. Friedman on behalf of the Foundation sent a letter under the Illinois Open Records Act, seeking records on the capital project grant fund, as the first step toward a legal challenge.
Records reveal that the church, to date, has not filled out a grant application. Mail to the governor’s office appeared to be 10-1 against the scheme.
“The founders of our country were so careful to create a secular government, which ensured citizens would never be tithed to support churches against their conscience. Our founders would have regarded this pledge as constitutional blasphemy,” Gaylor said.
To protest the pledge of $1 million in tax dollars, contact:
Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich
207 State House
Springfield IL 62706
(217)782-0244 (phone)
(271)524-4040 (fax)
