Show me the (faith-based) money!

As a citizen and taxpayer, I deserve to know how many "faith-based" dollars are going to which religious groups and for what. The money should not just disappear into a black hole, because it could be used for other purposes such as political support (religious cronyism), buildings of worship, clergy wealth, etc.

I should know how much and who receives these "faith-based" funds in my area and why. There should be accountability just like every other government program. I should know who is being helped and how. Otherwise, how can we tell if there is fraud, etc.?

We should also have accountability as to how successful the "faith-based" grantees have been in helping the poor and needy and whether they did a better job than government programs. Should we continue down this "faith-based" path since it was a failure in the past? The failure is why government took over programs in the first place.

As a citizen, I feel all this public money to religious groups for whatever reason violates the Constitution and the separation of church and state. It is treason to remove democracy for a theocracy. The religious organizations in this country have abused their tax-exempt status and the concept that made them free in the first place. Greed overwhelms democracy.

Sinclair Lewis said, "When fascism comes to America it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross."

Judith Stevens

Lake Zurich, III.