It Pays to Complain

A complaint by the Freedom From Religion Foundation averted a state/church violation in Iowa City, Iowa, in late April.

Notified on April 19 by a member that a public school-sponsored basketball game that evening would be raising money for a damaged Catholic church, the Foundation immediately contacted the school district.

The West High School booster club, an official school group, was hosting an exhibition game between University of Iowa players and high school teachers. In light of the April 13 tornado, the players suddenly asked to turn this tournament into a fundraiser to rebuild a Catholic church--just one of many homes, offices and buildings damaged by the tornado.

Foundation co-president Annie Larie Gaylor faxed Supt. Lane Plugge, Iowa City Community School District, a letter, noting:

"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)"

The school district responded promptly to the Foundation's complaint, phoning to indicate compliance. District officials decided to give $1,000 of the $1,600 raised to the Red Cross for general tornado relief.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation received a plethora of ill-tempered emails from Iowa City citizens, such as from Aaron Ruffcorn, who wrote: "aren't there better things to do then [sic] to make sure St. Patrick's of Iowa City doesn't get $1,000? you people are shitheads."

But the Foundation also received some local praise, and was invited to contribute an op-ed piece on the subject to the local newspaper.

"What amazes me," comments Gaylor, "is how willing Americans seem to be these days to slide into a semi-theocracy. Fifty years ago, Protestants would have publicly protested such a scheme. Not a peep was heard from them over this clearly preferential treatment toward another denomination.

"Private citizens are free to give money to rebuild a Catholic church, but public schools and government are not. We commend the District for doing the right thing, once the problem was pointed out to them, by ensuring that money raised at a public school event was not siphoned exclusively to benefit one church."