I’m totally against this program and legislation, but it seems inaccurate to claim that it’s prohibiting participants from attending church. From my reading, the bill simply declares that religious activities do not qualify as “volunteering” under the terms of the program.
I think your right, but it is still wrong....
It MAY be that these activities do not qualify as eligible for the volunteer program but that’s not how it’s worded.
Prohibited Activities.—A participant in an approved national service position under this subtitle may not engage in the following activities:
(1) Attempting to influence legislation.
(2) Organizing or engaging in protests, petitions, boycotts, or strikes.
(3) Assisting, promoting, or deterring union organizing.
(4) Impairing existing contracts for services or collective bargaining agreements.
(5) Engaging in partisan political activities, or other activities designed to influence the outcome of an election to any public office.
(6) Participating in, or endorsing, events or activities that are likely to include advocacy for or against political parties, political platforms, political candidates, proposed legislation, or elected officials.
(7) Engaging in religious instruction, conducting worship services, providing instruction as part of a program that includes mandatory religious instruction or worship, constructing or operating facilities devoted to religious instruction or worship, maintaining facilities primarily or inherently devoted to religious instruction or worship, or engaging in any form of religious proselytization.
Well WHY The Hell NOT