
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, August 31, 1995                   TAG: 9508310059
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C4   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                 LENGTH: Short

ACLU CLAIMS STATE FUNDS RELIGIOUS GROUP

The Virginia chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union called for a state investigation Wednesday of a youth services group in Richmond that the ACLU says is religious in nature.

Kent Willis, executive director of the Virginia ACLU, asked Attorney General Jim Gilmore to investigate Youth Corporation Inc.-Youth Outreach Services. The organization, which provides job training for young people and welfare recipients in Richmond, imparts a Christian message to those it serves, the ACLU alleges.

``It's absolutely clear one of the purposes of this program is religion,'' Willis said, ``and if so, it can't get state funding.''

Liz Charity, executive director of YCI-YOS, acknowledged receiving a $69,000 state grant but denied being a religious group. She said the organization is trying to raise $1.3 million from private sources but would not discuss how much money has been raised.

``There's no way you can teach morals without the Lord Jesus Christ,'' Charity said Wednesday. ``We are not a religious group.''

Willis said he has filed a Freedom of Information request with Gov. George Allen's office to determine if the organization has received other government money.

``The ACLU has no argument on the group's mission,'' Willis said. ``Indeed, we would defend its constitutional right to pursue its religious goals, but not with funding from the government.''

by CNB