Democracy Has Prevailed.

February 24, 2006

Sometimes you win one

From the Post-Gazette:
Abstinence group loses federal grant over 1st Amendment

A Pittsburgh-area organization dedicated to abstinence education has lost $75,000 in federal funding as part of a settlement of a lawsuit alleging that the group's activities violated the First Amendment.

The Silver Ring Thing, based in Moon, has received more than $1 million in federal funding over the past three years.

The group -- which operates worldwide -- advocates abstinence through lavish three-hour sound-and-light productions and $12 silver rings, which signify a pledge to remain virginal until marriage.

In May, the American Civil Liberties Union filed suit against the federal government in U.S. District Court in Boston, charging that it was allowing the Silver Ring Thing to use public tax money for primarily religious purposes. The suit charged that there was no secular component to Silver Ring Thing activities, which violated federal standards for faith-based organizations and the First Amendment.

[snip]

She said that the ACLU is currently suing another Pennsylvania organization, Firm Foundation, for its lack of secular options in a jail work release program in Bradford County.
So when do we get back the rest of the taxpayer $$$ given to them?

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