eChristianity
Friday, February 26, 2021
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Christian Life
  • Ministry
  • Vatican News
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Christian Life
  • Ministry
  • Vatican News
eChristianity
No Result
View All Result

Interfaith coalition calls for more funding of gov’t security program amid spike in church vandalism

October 7, 2020
in Politics
0
0
SHARES
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Read More

Recommended Post

Prince Harry, Duchess Meghan donate new roof to Texas women’s ministry after winter storm

Medical, legal experts warn of Equality Act’s impact on parents, kids and religious freedom

NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office denies sexual harassment claims by former staffer

By Michael Gryboski, Christian Post Reporter Follow

image
Saints Peter and Paul Church is a Roman Catholic Church in San Francisco’s North Beach neighborhood, directly across from Washington Square. | Getty Images

A diverse coalition of faith leaders has called on Congress to increase funding for a government security program for nonprofits amid a wave of vandalisms of church properties.

In a letter sent to members of Congress on Monday, the coalition asked for more funds to be directed to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Nonprofit Security Grant Program.

The letter noted that this year, approximately $90 million was made available to nonprofits to pay for various security improvements. The coalition asked for an increase to $360 million.

The proposed amount would be split in two, with $180 million going to the Nonprofit Security Grant Program under the Urban Area Security Initiative and $180 million going to the Nonprofit Security Grant Program under the State Homeland Security Grant Program.

“Our sacred spaces have been desecrated, and our faithful murdered,” read the letter. “The most recent available statistics from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, for 2018, show that at least 1,244 hate crimes were committed against members of the faiths we represent.”

“In recent congressional testimony, FBI Director Christopher Wray warned that the greatest threats to the homeland are posed by domestic violent extremists who attack soft targets, such as places of worship, and who are difficult to detect and disrupt before they act.”

The signatories of the letter added that they “believe that protecting the ability of all Americans to live out their faith without fear or harm is one of the most important duties of the federal government.”

“At a time of increasing extremism and antagonism towards different religious groups and religion in general, we believe significant increased funding for this important government program in fiscal year 2021 is imperative,” they concluded.

Get The Christian Post newsletter in your inbox.

The top 7 stories of the day, curated just for you!
Delivery: Weekdays

Groups that signed the letter include the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee for Religious Liberty, Agudath Israel of America, the U.S. Council of Muslim Organizations, The Episcopal Church, Lutheran Center for Religious Liberty, The Jewish Federations of North America, National Association of Evangelicals, National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA, North American Division of the Seventh-day Adventists, Sikh Council for Interfaith Relations, Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America.

Over the summer, amid riots that stemmed from protests against police brutality and racism, several historic monuments and churches, especially Roman Catholic properties, were vandalized.

Incidents included a man setting fire to a church in Florida while parishioners were inside and a Virgin Mary statue outside a church in Massachusetts being destroyed.

In response to this apparent trend, Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., asked U.S. Attorney General William Barr to step up efforts to end the attacks on Catholic churches.

“The trend of desecrating Catholic spaces and property must stop,” wrote Kennedy to Barr back in August. “I trust you are actively working to identify and prosecute those who have committed these destructive acts. I ask that you also focus your efforts on preventing such violence to both Catholic people and property.”

Follow Michael Gryboski on Twitter or Facebook

Previous Post

Scottish Bishops: Church doors need to be open now more than ever

Next Post

North Korean defectors to reveal harrowing detail of escape at Night of Freedom event

Related Posts

Prince Harry, Duchess Meghan donate new roof to Texas women’s ministry after winter storm

Prince Harry, Duchess Meghan donate new roof to Texas women’s ministry after winter storm

February 25, 2021
Medical, legal experts warn of Equality Act’s impact on parents, kids and religious freedom

Medical, legal experts warn of Equality Act’s impact on parents, kids and religious freedom

February 25, 2021
NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office denies sexual harassment claims by former staffer

NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office denies sexual harassment claims by former staffer

February 25, 2021
Hundreds of evangelical leaders condemn role of ‘Christian nationalism’ in Capitol riot

Hundreds of evangelical leaders condemn role of ‘Christian nationalism’ in Capitol riot

February 25, 2021
South Dakota passes law requiring doctors to help babies born alive after abortion

South Dakota passes law requiring doctors to help babies born alive after abortion

February 25, 2021
Young father in distress shoots himself inside Ohio church, planned to rededicate life to God

Young father in distress shoots himself inside Ohio church, planned to rededicate life to God

February 24, 2021
Next Post

North Korean defectors to reveal harrowing detail of escape at Night of Freedom event

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Top Stories

Texas church helps mosque damaged after snowstorm

Texas church helps mosque damaged after snowstorm

February 25, 2021
Why a Catholic journalist is urging the church to engage Black Lives Matter

Why a Catholic journalist is urging the church to engage Black Lives Matter

February 25, 2021
The creeping radicalization of white evangelicals

The creeping radicalization of white evangelicals

February 25, 2021
eChristianity

© 2020 eChristianity News

Navigate Site

  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Christian Life
  • Ministry
  • Vatican News

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Christian Life
  • Ministry
  • Vatican News

© 2020 eChristianity News