Mike the Usurper wrote:

The Federal Emergency Management Agency will reimburse churches and other religious organizations that have provided shelter, food and supplies to the victims of hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the Washington Post reported on Tuesday.

The payments with taxpayer money would mark the first time that the government has made such payments to faith-based groups at a time following natural disasters, the newspaper reported, citing FEMA officials.

WHAT??? Isn't that what "charity" is all about? What the hell is this?

I don't really see why its a problem for FEMA to make use of church facilities in managing emergency operations in the same way they use "secular" facilities. This is not charity. This is federally funded disaster assistance. These people were asked to assist with federal releif efforts. This is not the establishment droid you are looking for.

If those churchs end up using federal funds to convert disaster victims there might be a problem, and I presume the previous firewall here was intended to prevent that, but one can cut that line with a scalpel rather then a sword.

RE: FEMA to reimburse faith groups for helping victims