State/Church Bulletin

Church Grants Appear Illegal

Grants by the state of Louisiana to two churches appear unconstitutional, according to U.S. District Judge Sarah Vance. The judge did not yet rule in the lawsuit brought by the ACLU, challenging $100,000 in tax money earmarked for Stonewall Baptist Church in Bossier City, and $20,000 for Shreveport Christian church.

But in September comments, Vance said giving money to churches without accountability was "what the founders clearly did not want."

The churches were only two out of 14 for which tax money was earmarked in line-item appropriations in the budget signed by then-Gov. Kathleen Blanco in July. The churches in question are two of six churches getting money for which the budget does not mandate a specific program. The ACLU has not ruled out challenging the other church earmarks. For instance, Israelite Baptist Church in Crowley is to receive $100,000 for youth programs.

The churches have not yet applied for the money.

Court: Don't Coerce AA

A 3-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in September that a Hawaiian parole officer who ordered a paroled methamphetamine addict to attend meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous/Narcotics Anonymous could be sued by the addict's estate for violating his constitutional rights. Ricky K. Inouye, a Buddhist, refused to attend AA meetings and was returned to prison. The panel said "attendance in their programs may not be coerced by the state."