The Solid Rock Fellowship Assembly of God is a church that is stationed inside of a low-income housing complex in Kalihi, Hawaii. Run by Pastor Taavao Alualu, the house of worship has been in operation since 1996. Despite its 16-year history, the Hawaii Citizens for the Separation of State and Church (HCSSC), a group that values church-state separatism, is seeking to have the church evicted.
In addition to urging the Hawaii Public Housing Authority to evict the church and prevent it from using the public space, the group wants the state to collect back-rent that the house of worship didn’t pay during some of its time using the building.
“It’s basically a separation of church and state issue,” explains David Tveraas, director of HCSSC. “The issue is this is a state building and the state is not allowed to be funding any private churches.”
Imagine telling your mortgage company that you shouldn't be evicted from your home because you moved into a bad neighborhood then did some renovations to your house. It wouldn't matter... you owe, you don't pay, you get evicted. Why is it any different for a group of people who espouse a deity? It's not.
ReplyDeleteI don't think that there is enough info to determine if this is a church/state issue. If all/any groups can rent/use this space, then I don't think its an issue. If there are restrictions to say, Muslims, who wanted to rent the space and use it for a Mosque.. now we have an issue.