Tony Perkins on MSNBC's Scarborough Country Tonight

Tony Perkins on MSNBC's Scarborough Country Tonight

"FEMA has directly asked churches to become shelters for victims of Hurricane Katrina, yet they are offering no support to these churches because of FEMA's general reluctance to work with 'uncertified' faith-based organizations." ~Tony Perkins, President, Family Research Council

WASHINGTON, Sept. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Family Research Council President and Louisiana native will appear on MSNBC's Scarborough Country tonight to discuss his efforts in aiding the victims of Hurricane Katrina and give a first person account of the devastation and the good that is coming out of this disaster. Perkins reflects on his home state and the devastation it and its people have endured:

"As the cleanup after the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina continues, more help is still needed. I have spent the last week and a half toiling beside PRC Compassion in providing shelter and compassion truly inspired by faith to those whose lives have been shattered by the storm. PRC Compassion is a charitable coalition of churches and pastors trying to coordinate national, state, and local faith and community-based organizations to meet all needs of people impacted by Hurricane Katrina. There are about 60 churches involved in this effort - and that number will probably double very soon.

"Additionally there are hundreds of volunteers forming 'chainsaw brigades' to remove fallen trees, clearing the paths for relief and repair efforts. I have purposely avoided the current political 'blame game' erupting on the national and local levels over relief efforts but am witnessing firsthand the bureaucratic obstacles in working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Red Cross.

"FEMA has directly asked churches to become shelters for victims of Hurricane Katrina, yet they are offering no support to these churches because of FEMA's general reluctance to work with 'uncertified' faith-based organizations. Survivors are sleeping on church floors while thousands of cots are reportedly unused in FEMA warehouses, due to red tape. The Red Cross, in turn, is reluctant to work with non-FEMA-approved organizations. In the meantime the churches carry on with their mission, as they always have."

Source: Family Research Council

CONTACT: Amber Hildebrand, +1-202-393-2100, or adh@frc.org, or For Radio, J.P. Duffy, jpd@frc.org, or Bethanie Swendsen, bas@frc.org, both at +1-202-393-2100, all of Family Research Council

Web site: http://www.frc.org/

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