Illinois Cancels Controversial Grant To Historic Church For Rebuilding

Chicago activist Rob Sherman reports that the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity notified (full text of letter) Pilgrim Baptist Church last month that it was terminating a grant promised to the church by former Governor Rod Blagojevich. The $1 million state grant was intended to help rebuild the historic Chicago church after it was severely damaged by fire in 2006. Last year, Sherman filed a lawsuit alleging that the grant violates the Establishment Clause as well as various provisions of the Illinois Constitution that effectively bar expenditures for religious purposes. (See prior posting.) The grant agreement limited the funds to use for secular purposes, but Sherman claimed that the state portion will still be identified with the church and that there were no effective limits on use of the funds after the two-year grant period.