The organizers of a Biblical park in Sioux City refused a $140,000 grant from the state after receiving complaints from Madison-based atheist group Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF). After FFRF sent a letter to state authorities last month criticizing them of failing to separate church and state, developers of The Shepherd’s Garden decided to refuse the donation from Vision Iowa Board, a local government body that is associated with the Iowa Economic Development Authority, on June 11th.
The Vision Iowa Board had earlier responded by saying their $140,000 grant was meant for the non-sectarian features of the park including trees and flowers but FFRF stood by their argument that funding the project in any way was in fact a violation of church and state. That is when The Shepherd’s Garden developers decided to return the donation.
"I didn't want to be in the middle of a lawsuit. All I want to do is build the park. I don't want to be in the middle of depositions,” said Garry Smith, one of the members of the Shepherd's Garden board.
Andrew Seidel, attorney for FFRF said his client was happy that they did not have to go to court to settle the matter, adding that the resolution is a “total victory for the separation of church and state.”
Before finalizing a contract with The Shepherd’s Garden, Tina Hoffman, communications director of Iowa Economic Development Authority, clarified that their funds were not meant for any of the religious elements in the park, also known as Peace Garden, but Seidel responded by saying it was more than evident that the state was trying to promote religion with a park.
“The board was aware of this project, it was really described as a meditation park, they knew that it had some elements to it that were religious in nature and they were clear, obviously, that state funds could not be particularly expended for those areas,” said Hoffman.
Once news of FFRF’s letter to the state hit the media, developers of The Shepherd’s Garden managed to raise enough money from private donors and are likely to continue with the project. The park has an estimated cost of $800,000 and is expected to be complete by September 2014.
Opinions
Casper Rigsby
There's nothing petty about this case in the least. The use of taxpayers money to help fund a theme park geared specifically towards Christians is most definitely promoting a given religion. And yet the state was determined to do it anyway.
What's most bothersome is that the theme park's owners were willing to take the money at all and only backed out for fear of a lawsuit. It baffles me that religious people just don't get the fact that organizations like the FFRF resort to lawsuits is that fear seems to be the only thing the religious respect. They obviously don't respect the law or the constitution, yet every republican I see on television seems to have one in their pocket. Much like the bible, they really need to READ THE DAMN THING!
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