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USAID exporting religiously infused messages, sued by ACLU
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by Rhonda J Mangus | February 21, 2010 at 11:36 am
333 views | 12 Recommendations | 7 comments
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Using taxpayer dollars to 'export' religiously infused materials and messages overseas deemed unconstitutional, the United States Agency for International Development's (USAID) failure to timely respond to American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Freedom of Information Act requests, has landed USAID in federal court. USAID was sued last week by the American Civil Liberties Union. The ACLU filed the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York after USAID failed to timely respond to ACLU Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests.
The ACLU is demanding from USAID materials related to its abstinence-only-until-marriage programs funded through HIV/AIDS grants, including requests for proposals, contracts with USAID, curricula used by grantees, communications between USAID and the White House and communications between USAID and its grantees about religious instruction in abstinence-only-until-marriage curricula.
“In the face of a growing global HIV/AIDS crisis, USAID is not only violating basic constitutional principles by promoting government-funded religious activities, it is unconscionably putting young people’s health and lives at risk,” said Rose Saxe, staff attorney with the ACLU AIDS Project.
USAID has a history of unconstitutionally funding religious activities
USAID’s Office of the Inspector General released a report last year revealing that USAID has a history of unconstitutionally funding religious activities in its health and social service programs. In addition, while USAID has sought guidance from the Department of Justice about this issue, it is not clear that the Obama administration has responded adequately to these requests or has monitored the agency’s activities to ensure that taxpayer dollars do not continue to be misused.
Let's talk transparency and government-sponsored programs based on science, not ideology
“The Obama administration has promised transparency as well as government-sponsored programs that are based on science, not ideology,” said Daniel Mach, Director of Litigation for the ACLU Program on Freedom of Religion and Belief. “USAID’s failure to release the documents and its blatant misuse of taxpayer dollars to export religious programming in abstinence-only-until-marriage programs fails on both counts and cannot continue.”
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Rhonda J Mangus
North Tonawanda, New York, United States
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stejeb
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Spydermonkey
huntsville, Alabama, United States
Uwe Paschen
Narita, Chiba, Japan
Caoimhin1
Dunshaggin, Ireland
nanute
New York, United States
Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke
Redwater, Alberta, Canada
Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (7)
at 11:58 on February 21st, 2010
If gay people are so opposed to the laws of God why do they want to get married ? Is this marriage in the eyes of God or in the eyes of a large cheese role ? Please explain...
at 12:15 on February 21st, 2010
ones about the same as the other as far as I'm concerned.
As far as pension rights and a whole plethora of rights and benefits for the individuals in a married relationship, compared to those not married are very different, that is a big part of it.
Because we have no religious affiliations, and no interest in organised religion, my wife and I chose to marry in a registry office, so a cheese burger would have done nicely.
As far as this article is concerned though, the issue that interests me is the misuse of public tax money, tax money to promote something they should stay away from, and their failure to hand over the information when requested.
at 12:05 on February 21st, 2010
Sputnic, thank you for reading and commenting. However, you lost me with, If gay people are so opposed to the laws of God why do they want to get married ?
at 12:54 on February 21st, 2010
I believe "marriage" therein was given religious association. However, what is being fought for is legally recognized unions. That will allow for equal rights with respect to pensions, beneifts, insurance, adoption, joint-property, joint-custody etc. Whether or not a religious leader desires to perfrom any sort of ceremony is their perogative (a layman/woman may refuse to marry a couple already).
at 17:30 on February 21st, 2010
Gay marriage is a canard by the homosexual activists to portray "gays" as normal, and to undermine the heterosexual marriage model.
ONLY 4% of homosexuals - in states where homosexual "marriage" is legal, bother to get "married". If it were as important as they would like the gullible to believe, they would be getting "married" in droves. The fact they they do not speaks volumes.
4%. Imagine that. Must be a real big deal, no?
With less than 2% of the adult population being homosexual, and only 4% going the "marriage" route, shootfire, that makes what, a few dozen "married" gays?
at 21:06 on February 21st, 2010
96.5% of all statistics are false. Also, cite your source if you so will prefereably from an unbiased source.
at 20:13 on February 21st, 2010
Hi everyone! Thanks for your comments. However, I still am somewhat confused by them for the reason that this article is about:
“The Obama administration has promised transparency as well as government-sponsored programs that are based on science, not ideology,” said Daniel Mach, Director of Litigation for the ACLU Program on Freedom of Religion and Belief. “USAID’s failure to release the documents and its blatant misuse of taxpayer dollars to export religious programming in abstinence-only-until-marriage programs fails on both counts and cannot continue.”