Why do we fund church groups?

Our Illinois legislators are unconstitutionally appropriating and distributing to religious organizations tens of millions of our tax dollars every year. This is money that could be left in our pockets or used legally for some of our many fiscal problems and needs.

In complete defiance of Article X, Section 3 of the Illinois Constitution, we are financially supporting houses of worship, parochial schools and religious ministries.

There are scores of grants paid each year to constitutionally ineligible entities. Here is one example: Christ the King Jesuit High School received a state grant of a half-million dollars toward the cost of a new Catholic

high school building. The sponsor of that grant, State Rep. LaShawn Ford, is on the board of trustees of Christ the King High School. Yet, despite the obvious conflict of interest, the grant was paid. This is the same LaShawn Ford who got indicted, a few days ago, for bank fraud. It seems, if you defraud the citizens with an unconstitutional grant, that’s OK, but if you defraud a bank, you get indicted.

Our tax dollars would be better spent taking care of our returning vets, honoring contracts with government employees such as fireman, police, and teachers, paying down our debt, and paying for infrastructure.

Walter Naaf

Pingree Grove