The Freedom From Religion Foundation is renewing its demand that the Federal Emergency Management Agency rescind a proposed $1 million-plus handout for a Kentucky church/tornado shelter. In 2021, a concerned city resident and taxpayer in Versailles, Ky., had alerted FFRF about an official decision to spend public funds to pay for a new church building on church property . FFRF wrote to FEMA and received a response indicating that the project was put on hold pending review of the constitutional issues. FFRF has continued to keep an eye on this project and, now the national state/church watchdog has learned that FEMA is moving forward with the grant whereby approximately $1.2 million will be used to construct the new building, which will be owned by First Baptist Church, with the church agreeing to public use of the building during an emergency. The proposal for the project clearly explained that the funds will be used to build a church: Day-to-day, the planned use for the space would be for the First Baptist Church to be able to utilize the space for worship services and church functions, and for [Ministries United Serving Together] to utilize portions of the structure for service initiatives […]
