CAMPUS

No Bailout For Religious Buildings on Campuses

FIRE reports on the only group around not getting a chunk of the stimulus bill – religious buildings on campus:

(2) PROHIBITED USES OF FUNDS.—No funds awarded under this section may be used for—(A) the maintenance of systems, equipment, or facilities, including maintenance associated with any permissible uses of funds described in paragraph (1); (B) modernization, renovation, or repair of stadiums or other facilities primarily used for athletic contests or exhibitions or other events for which admission is charged to the general public; (C) modernization, renovation, or repair of facilities— (i) used for sectarian instruction, religious worship, or a school or department of divinity; or (ii) in which a substantial portion of the functions of the facilities are subsumed in a religious mission; or (D) construction of new facilities. [Emphasis added.]

As FIRE goes on to note, this could very well cause problems, not necessarily from the federal government denying funds, but from college administrators banning religious groups from using facilities for fear of losing their stimulus money. And that would be unconstitutional per the Supreme Court case of Widmar v. Vincent, 454 U.S. 263 (1981).

There has already been one attempt to remove the provision from the bill, but it failed 43-54. FIRE suggests not striking the provision but merely amending it to make exceptions for religious groups using facilities. Either way, the language as it currently stands is unacceptable. You can get in touch with your state Senators and let them know you oppose the provision (or, y’know, the giant stimulus bill in general).