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Tribal Government Funds Rebuilding of Catholic Church On Reservation

By Howard M. Friedman

The Indian Civil Rights Act of 1968 imposes most of the restrictions found in the Constitution's Bill of Rights and in the 14th Amendment on Tribal governments. However, it does not impose Establishment Clause limitations on tribes. This has permitted the tribal government of California's Rincon Indian Band to pay $3.2 million in tribal funds derived from Harrah's Rincon Casino to rebuild an expanded Catholic Church on the Rincon reservation. Today's San Diego Union Tribune reports that the prior Chapel, built in the 1930's, was one of 65 buildings on the reservation destroyed by fire in 2007. Approximately 80% of the Rincon tribe members are Catholic.

Full post as published by Religion Clause on January 23, 2010 (boomark / email).