The National Association of Muslim Police (NAMP) received £90,000 in grant aid in the last two years while the Christian Police Association (CPA) received just £15,000 in the last five years.
The following article from the Telegraph is majoring on the fact that the Home Office has been accused of discriminating against police Christian groups in favour of a Muslim police group, however, the real issue for me is whether religious groups should receive government funding at all.
A while back I posted in relation to a police Christian group and wrote:-
…..Interesting, although I am always slightly concerned when any Christian group receives funding from secular sources, especially governmental sources. I personally believe that all Christian groups should be funded from the Christian purse, even if they are providing a public service. Using public funds always adds fuel to the secularist fires and Christian funding eliminates any unwanted controlling influences.
I am now awaiting the predictable comments on this, that tax payers are funding ‘magic’ within the policing world.
Personally I think this new “row” is another example reinforcing the argument against secular funding of ALL religious groups.
The National Association of Muslim Police (NAMP) received £90,000 in grant aid in the last two years while the
Christian Police Association (CPA) received just £15,000 in the last five, despite both groups having around 2,000 members.
And the CPA even disputed those figures insisting it has only been given £10,000 over the period.
Faith-based organisations can bid for Home Office grants either for specific projects or for general funding, with officials deciding which are successful.
Don Axcell, executive director of the CPA, said other requests for additional funding had been ignored.
He said: “As a Christian charity we have to rely on the public for funds as our requests for money from government are largely rejected or ignored. Our letters go unanswered.”
Alan Craig, leader of Christian Peoples Alliance, said: “This is yet another sign of Christianity being written off the agenda.
“Christians are constantly marginalised and discriminated against by the government, who are ignoring one of this country’s principle faiths.”
The CPA was handed £5,000 in 2004/05 and £10,000 last year, according to Home Office figures, but Mr Axcell insisted the only grant the group has received is the one last year.
That was to help widen its involvement with local church groups and encouraged members of the public to “adopt a cop” by praying for the safety of local officers.
In contrast, the NAMP was given grants of £45,000 last year and in 2008/09, listed only as general funding.
Tags: Christianity, News
March 15th, 2010 at 7:48 am
[...] Public funding for police religious groups? No thanks. By Edmund Standing The EChurch Blog comments on the religious police groups funding issue: I am always slightly concerned when any Christian [...]
March 15th, 2010 at 7:55 am
We’re on the same side when it comes to keeping the Government out of private beliefs:
http://edmundstanding.wordpress.com/2010/03/15/christian-writer-public-funding-for-police-religious-groups-no-thanks/
I’d like the Government to stop its social engineering ‘political correctness’ projects altogether, especially as WE are funding them all!
At least the Conservatives are clear about trimming spending. Let’s hope it starts with the removal of funding from groups which do not benefit citizens as a whole. And, yes, while I believe strongly in gay rights, public funding for an LGBT police group is unacceptable.