Federal Earmarks Benefitting Religious Groups Show Sharp Increase

Today's New York Times reports that there has been a sharp increase in the number of earmarks in federal appropriations bills that benefit religious organizations. There have been 900 earmarks directing $318 million to religious groups between 1989 and 2007. (The Times has posted a list of all 900.) More than half of those were in bills enacted in the Congressional session that included the 2004 presidential election. The number of religious groups listed as clients of Washington lobbying firms tripled between 1998 and 2005. The funds all have to be used for non-religious purposes. Many earmarks fund social service activities of the organizations, but others give churches control of parcels of federal land or fund buildings on the campuses of religious colleges.