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dixiegrrrrl

(60,010 posts)
Thu Sep 7, 2017, 01:04 PM Sep 2017

Texas churches suing FEMA, they want that taxpayer provided money.

Last edited Thu Sep 7, 2017, 06:14 PM - Edit history (1)

From jaunitajean.com

Apparently, they didn’t have insurance and by golly, God did not favor them. They got damaged just like the heathens next door.
The only difference is that the heathen next door pays taxes.

The churches claim they are being denied their first amendment rights because FEMA is discriminating against them.
The Texas churches that sued are the Rockport First Assembly of God in Rockport, which lost its roof and steeple and suffered other structural damage, and the Harvest Family Church in Cypress and Hi-Way Tabernacle in Cleveland, which were flooded.

I suggest they do what thousands of other folks pestered by Harvey do – put on some boots and a face mask, grab a shovel, starting digging crap Harvey left behind, and pay your damn taxes you welfare queens.

http://juanitajean.com/holy-crap-fix-this-edition/

Someone asked downthread if churches were even eligible. They are not:

From: Public Assistance Program and Policy Guide
FP 104-009-2 / April 2017

p12. Facilities established or primarily used for political, athletic, religious, recreational, vocational, or academic training, conferences, or similar activities are not eligible (see Table 3).

https://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/1496435662672-d79ba9e1edb16e60b51634af00f490ae/2017_PAPPG_2.0_508_FINAL(2).pdf

24 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Texas churches suing FEMA, they want that taxpayer provided money. (Original Post) dixiegrrrrl Sep 2017 OP
They didn't pray the hurricane away? eom. Bad Thoughts Sep 2017 #1
K&R HAB911 Sep 2017 #2
Wish someone could countersue drmeow Sep 2017 #3
I thought the religious reichs reason for Harvey was.. workinclasszero Sep 2017 #4
Our church was heavily damaged in a storm OldHippieChick Sep 2017 #5
Here's a question - seriously - do they not get FEMA money phylny Sep 2017 #6
At this point in the collective insanity we call America dixiegrrrrl Sep 2017 #18
I found it: dixiegrrrrl Sep 2017 #21
What great research! Thank you! n/t phylny Sep 2017 #22
Wingnuts think their charitable giving shows that government programs are not needed. UTUSN Sep 2017 #7
In Addition To What You Said. . . ProfessorGAC Sep 2017 #8
Well, if those churches don't have insurance and are unable to repair MineralMan Sep 2017 #9
A capital idea! dixiegrrrrl Sep 2017 #19
ANd to ReTrumplicans maxrandb Sep 2017 #10
Then pay taxes Soxfan58 Sep 2017 #11
Fuck them. Fuck every last one of them. Orrex Sep 2017 #12
good point! dixiegrrrrl Sep 2017 #20
Americans United for the Separation of Church & State is really good about that Orrex Sep 2017 #23
God hates Texas IronLionZion Sep 2017 #13
Recede tiptonic Sep 2017 #14
They have money for lawyers, Delmette2.0 Sep 2017 #15
THIS!!! Mr. Evil Sep 2017 #17
What are these, some kinda socialist churches?? NBachers Sep 2017 #16
The repeated emphasis on taxes in this thread is just wrong. Jim Lane Sep 2017 #24

drmeow

(4,996 posts)
3. Wish someone could countersue
Thu Sep 7, 2017, 01:34 PM
Sep 2017

Its a violation of my religious beliefs to have to pay to support these f**kers

Edit to add - I wish a mosque would sue

 

workinclasszero

(28,270 posts)
4. I thought the religious reichs reason for Harvey was..
Thu Sep 7, 2017, 01:43 PM
Sep 2017

God struck Houston because they had a gay mayor? See here:

Ann Coulter says storm Harvey is more likely God’s punishment for Houston’s lesbian mayor than a result of climate change
Divine retribution for a lesbian mayor makes more sense than climate change, provocateur says

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/ann-coulter-harvey-climate-change-god-punishment-more-credible-tweet-a7919301.html



Maybe he was going after apostate prosperity/dominunist churches instead?

Also if you claim to be exempt from paying taxes where do you get off demanding taxpayer money to rebuild your Randian $$$ profit center?

OldHippieChick

(2,434 posts)
5. Our church was heavily damaged in a storm
Thu Sep 7, 2017, 01:47 PM
Sep 2017

but we did have insurance. Maybe Texas has different laws, in which case, this church should sue the State, not the feds. Needless to say our church had out-of-pocket expenses, but other churches chipped in as did the congregants. Perhaps the First Assembly people ought to consider suing the Lord.

phylny

(8,353 posts)
6. Here's a question - seriously - do they not get FEMA money
Thu Sep 7, 2017, 01:47 PM
Sep 2017

because they don't pay taxes, or is there another reason?

dixiegrrrrl

(60,010 posts)
18. At this point in the collective insanity we call America
Thu Sep 7, 2017, 05:52 PM
Sep 2017

I have no idea what rules FEMA uses.
but...in the past...individual homeowners got FEMA money so they could get back on their feet.
businesses did not get it.

dixiegrrrrl

(60,010 posts)
21. I found it:
Thu Sep 7, 2017, 06:11 PM
Sep 2017

From: Public Assistance Program and Policy Guide
FP 104-009-2 / April 2017

https://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/1496435662672-d79ba9e1edb16e60b51634af00f490ae/2017_PAPPG_2.0_508_FINAL(2).pdf

p12. Facilities established or primarily used for political, athletic, religious, recreational, vocational, or academic training, conferences, or similar activities are not eligible (see Table 3).

Lawyers they can afford, but repairs not?????

UTUSN

(70,497 posts)
7. Wingnuts think their charitable giving shows that government programs are not needed.
Thu Sep 7, 2017, 02:10 PM
Sep 2017

When there's turnover from Dems to Repukes in government, the Repukes slash programs/services and then ballyhoo about "volunteerism" to cover the gaps (nowhere close to covering). I don't begrudge them the deductions, just dispute their self-congratulation.

Even in their Fundie "giving" they are refuted by their own scriptures that say "works" (good works) will not save them.

Here's an overlooked Lib voice, Andy RICHTER: "The RW insistence that no one can believe in humanitarian virtue w/o receiving personal benefit just reveals their own shabby moral code."

ProfessorGAC

(64,427 posts)
8. In Addition To What You Said. . .
Thu Sep 7, 2017, 02:13 PM
Sep 2017

. . .the charitable giving of most the parishioners is giving to the church. So, they're giving to a charity that directly benefits them. Some charitable donation!

MineralMan

(146,192 posts)
9. Well, if those churches don't have insurance and are unable to repair
Thu Sep 7, 2017, 02:18 PM
Sep 2017

their buildings, I truly think the local governments should step in to help. They can have their public works department come right in with dozers, skiploaders and dumptrucks to demolish the damaged buildings and haul the debris away for public safety reasons. No charge. It would be a public service for the benefit and safety of the community..

maxrandb

(15,193 posts)
10. ANd to ReTrumplicans
Thu Sep 7, 2017, 02:33 PM
Sep 2017

These are the fuckers that are going to save the poor, sick, elderly and infirmed when they destroy the Social Safety Net.

Hey fucksticks!!!! You shouldn't be asking for money, you should be helping the devastated.

I think Napoleon had it right when he said; "Organized Religion is what keeps the poor from eating the rich"

Orrex

(63,086 posts)
12. Fuck them. Fuck every last one of them.
Thu Sep 7, 2017, 03:05 PM
Sep 2017

I don't care if it's a mega-church or a mom-and-pop prayer tent. If you receive taxpayer money, then you are directly violating my First Amendment rights by forcing me to subsidize a religious institution.


Fuck them.

Orrex

(63,086 posts)
23. Americans United for the Separation of Church & State is really good about that
Thu Sep 7, 2017, 07:42 PM
Sep 2017

I'd guess that there's a good chance that they're already working on something.

 

Jim Lane

(11,175 posts)
24. The repeated emphasis on taxes in this thread is just wrong.
Thu Sep 7, 2017, 09:59 PM
Sep 2017

If a church that doesn't pay taxes catches fire, then the municipal fire department, supported by other people's taxes, shows up and puts the fire out. That's proper.

Per the link found by dixiegrrrrl, FEMA generally excludes churches AND all similar secular noncommercial activities. That's what makes it proper. If churches were the only nonprofits (nontaxpayers) excluded, that would probably be a violation of the Establishment Clause. One implication of the Establishment Clause is that the government may not favor nonreligion over religion.

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