April 19, 2006

Lane Plugge, Supt.
Iowa City Community School District
509 S Dubuque St.
Iowa City IA 52240

Dear Supt. Plugge:

On behalf of a taxpayer and complainant in Iowa City, our national association working to keep state and church separate is writing to alert you to a violation of this constitutional principle scheduled to take place tonight.

It is our understanding the West High School booster club, an official function of the school, is hosting an exhibition game between University of Iowa players and high school teachers. In light of the tornado, the players have suddenly asked to turn this tournament into a fundraiser to rebuild a Catholic Church.

Because this is an official school function which is not privately sponsored, and because there is no rent being paid, this amounts to an unlawful taxpayer subsidy of Roman Catholicism. If the individual players wish to raise money on their own for this purpose, that is their right, but it should be done privately--such as at a Catholic-hosted function.

We understand the players often turn the events into charitable endeavors, which is highly laudable, but they cannot do it at the expense of the U.S. Constitution and the Iowa State Constitution, which dictates:

"nor shall any person be compelled to attend any place of worship, pay tithes, taxes or other rates for building or rebuilding places of worship, or the maintenance of any minister, or ministry." (Art. I, Sec. 3)

Either the game must be canceled, or you must explain to the University of Iowa players (a public university which also has no business raising funds for a particular church) that the law requires that money raised--thanks to public sponsorship and taxpayer subsidy of the venue--must go only toward a secular charity or victim of the tornado, such as the Red Cross or an all-purpose fund for tornado victims which does not exclusively aid Catholics or is otherwise religiously discriminatory or segregated.

May we hear from you immediately that you are taking steps to ensure that taxpayers will not be subsidizing the rebuilding of a church through your school event?

Sincerely

Annie Laurie Gaylor