Posted on 01/12/2009 9:38:44 PM PST by markomalley
BOSTON (Reuters) - A U.S. civil liberties group sued the federal government Monday, charging it violated the Constitution by contracting a Roman Catholic entity to help victims of human trafficking.
The American Civil Liberties Union said the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops was imposing its beliefs on victims of human trafficking by not allowing federal grant money to be used for contraception or abortion.
When the bishops applied for the contracts, they said they would not work with subcontractors who provided abortion services or contraceptives, such as condoms, which conflict with Catholic teachings, according to the ACLU.
The suit filed in U.S. District Court in Boston said the Department of Health and Human Services violated the separation of church and state by giving the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops $6 million in grants from 2006 through 2008.
Many women victims of human trafficking are forced to work as prostitutes, and face a high risk of assault and rape, the ACLU said in court papers.
The Department of Health and Human Services permitted the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops "to impose its own religiously based substantive restrictions on the use of grant funds," the ACLU argued.
The suit asks the court to stop the department from allowing its grants being spent in a way that is restricted by religious beliefs.
Sister Mary Ann Walsh of the bishops' conference said the $6 million figure cited in the suit was the full amount authorized. But "far less" money had been appropriated, she said without giving a figure.
"The problem of trafficking in this country is huge and serious and the Catholic Church has the best network of services bar none," she said. "Going to the Catholic Church for social services is very logical."
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
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"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
When has that ever mattered?
Of course, they're petitioning for retroactive judicial action rendering their suit meritorious and correct.
While some people are right to warn that government money has unpredictable strings attached, it's a pity that civic-minded religious groups have to worry about them.
Just wait until Obama tries to force Catholic hospitals to perform abortions. That will start some real fireworks. It seems that the Catholic Church is drawing a line in the sand over that one.
The forgotten, or rather ignored clause.
What is unConstitutional is the federal government contracting with ANYONE to do this sort of work. That’s what needs to be addressed.
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Obama Says A Baby Is A Punishment
Obama: If they make a mistake, I dont want them punished with a baby.
This is good news. We in the Catholic Church should sever our relationship with the government.
Yes!!!
Pity - it's civilization's loss.
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No, this is bad news. It’s bad news because it puts victims of human trafficking at risk of not getting help, or getting helped by someone who would push abortion on them.
I think, we should be quick to sever them, but I would not advocate being proactive about it. If the government wants to fund the Church for some activity the Church would do anyway, the money should not be turned down, but no conditions should be attached to the funding. It is no different than placing money in the collection basket.
Both Hugh and Series?
If the ACLU receives any federal money, then I think a good case could be made against them for prohibiting the free exercise of religion.
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