APin 07/20 0218 Catholic School Grants


   FORT  WAYNE, Ind. (AP) -- A Washington-based group says if the
Fort Wayne City Council approves a plan to spend $35,500 on video
equipment for two Catholic schools, the council will be violating
the U.S. Constitution.

   Americans United for Separation of Church and State claims the
grants -- of $24,000 to Most Precious Blood Catholic  School  and
$11,500 to St.  Francis College -- are unconstitutional.

   Both  schools  would  use  the money to buy video equipment to
produce local educational shows for cable television.

   "The U.S. Supreme Court and a host of lower federal and  state
courts  have  ruled that the First Amendment prohibits government
at all levels from any direct aid to  religious  schools,"  wrote
Robert L. Maddox, executive director of Americans United.

   Maddox  wrote  the  letter  to  Mayor Win Moses Jr. and mailed
copies to City Council members.

   Both schools would allow other students to use the  equipment.
But  Joseph  Conn,  spokesman  for the group, predicted religious
minorities would feel intimidated.

   "Would they want the Moonies and the  Hare  Krishnas  and  the
Scientologists to use the facilities?"  Conn said.

   Mayoral  spokesman Kevin M. Purdy said the grants will benefit
all city residents, not just Catholic students.

   "Those funds are not intended to promote or further a religion
or a religious cause," he said. "Those funds are for the  benefit
of the  community."    Purdy  said he knew of no local complaints
about the grants.

   Sister Jean Perry, principal of Most Precious Blood,  declined
to comment.

   Americans  United  will consider suing if the council approves
the grants, Maddox wrote.

   The money is part of a package of grants the city  makes  each
year to agencies that want to improve local public TV facilities.

   Comcast  Cable  Communications,  owner  of  Fort Wayne's cable
system, each year pays 5 percent of  its  total  revenue  to  the
city.  The city earmarks 40 percent of the money for the grants.

	Last page !