At first blush, I can understand why it might be tempting to believe the federal government should reimburse private religious charities for their post-Katrina work. But in a situation like this one, if you’ll pardon the expression, the devil is unfortunately in the details.
After weeks of prodding by Republican lawmakers and the American Red Cross, the Federal Emergency Management Agency said yesterday that it will use taxpayer money to reimburse churches and other religious organizations that have opened their doors to provide shelter, food and supplies to survivors of hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
FEMA officials said it would mark the first time that the government has made large-scale payments to religious groups for helping to cope with a domestic natural disaster.
“I believe it’s appropriate for the federal government to assist the faith community because of the scale and scope of the effort and how long it’s lasting,” said Joe Becker, senior vice president for preparedness and response with the Red Cross.
And why not, right? In the aftermath of this disaster, ministries responded generously to help. The federal government is already poised to spend in upwards of $200 billion; why shouldn’t these charities be reimbursed for their trouble?
Well, as it turns out, there are plenty of reasons.
On principle, religious ministries are supposed to be charitable because of a spiritual calling. They take on the burdens of responding to a natural disaster, for example, because they believe that’s what they should do. If, however, they simply get paid back by the feds for their efforts, they’re less a charity and more an after-the-fact government contractor.
There’s a reason it’s called “volunteer” and “charity” work. Will parishioners be inclined to dig a little deeper for their congregation if they know that their house of worship is just going to get paid back for their work anyway?
Principle aside, there are all kinds of practical concerns as well.
FEMA officials said ministries can and will be reimbursed for a variety of services that have already been provided, including salaries, rent, housing, and materials like food and water.
Of course, some ministries have been going a little further in the kind of services they’ve provided for storm victims.
The Rev. Flip Benham, director of Operation Save America, an antiabortion group formerly known as Operation Rescue, said, “Separation of church and state means nothing in a time of disaster; you see immediately what a farce it is.”
Benham said that his group has been dispensing food and clothing and that “Bibles and tracts go out with everything we put out.”
Now, in this case, Benham doesn’t plan to apply for a reimbursement, but what about any number of ministries that were equally aggressive in proselytizing? What, exactly, will taxpayers be financing?
One report from last week noted that Southern Baptist aid workers “distributed 11,000 evangelistic tracts and 1,200 Bibles, and saw at least 45 new professions of faith in Christ.” In another instance, Evangelist Franklin Graham’s Samaritan’s Purse has been distributing gift bags to displaced children. The bag includes evangelistic tracts and a stuffed lamb that plays “Jesus Loves Me.” Graham urged churches participating in the relief efforts to include evangelism. “[I]n everything you do,” he said, “I encourage you to remember that your primary purpose is to share the redeeming love of the Lord Jesus Christ.”
I’m not saying there’s necessarily something wrong with proselytizing — though I find it discomforting to see that there are major groups who see a disaster as little more than a chance to win converts — but the question here is about what our money is paying for.
When the administration signs no-bid contracts with Halliburton and others, at least there’s some paper trail and reporting requirements. When FEMA starts cutting checks for the church down the street, where’s the accountability? Where are the safeguards for taxpayers and beneficiaries?
As a friend of mine put it, “The federal government cannot start dropping blank checks in the collection plates of churches.”