Federal disaster aid may help some Catholic facilities

Published: 2005-10-19

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency can help Catholic and other faith-based service agencies rebuild facilities damaged or destroyed by hurricanes Katrina and Rita, U.S. official Jim Towey said Oct. 18. Towey, director of the White House Office for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, discussed administration policy with reporters in a telephone conference call. He said religiously run schools, nursing homes and similar institutions affected by hurricanes, floods or other disasters are eligible to apply for FEMA public assistance grants. "President Bush believes that hurricanes, floods and earthquakes don't discriminate on the basis of religion, and the government's response to them should not either," Towey said. Houses of worship and other buildings used primarily for religious purposes are not eligible for FEMA aid even if they are also used for other purposes, he said, but buildings whose primary purpose is education or social services may be eligible even if they are also used partly for religious purposes.

Copyright (c) 2005 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .