Wyoming Grant To Religious Group Questioned

The Wyoming Department of Family Services has awarded an $80,000 grant to Faith Initiatives of Wyoming, according to the Associated Press. The AP article questions whether the state funds are being used unconstitutionally for religious purposes. Wyoming Family Services Director Rodger McDaniel says the payments do not violate Wyoming's constitutional ban on support of religious institutions. Faith Initiatives is to use the state funds to help existing organizations provide community services in areas such as "strengthening families" and "at-risk youth." Faith Initiatives has also received $347,000 in federal faith-based funding. Some of the organizations that Faith Initiatives has helped with funding are religious pregnancy crisis centers.