Greater New Salem Primitive Baptist Church in Tampa is currently missing something -- its steeple.

Steeple ripped off during Hurricane Irma

New steeple estimated at $55,000

Churches cannot receive FEMA disaster grants due to current policy

The steeple was ripped off during Hurricane Irma. Water then poured through the hole in the roof, causing water damage to the church’s balcony.

"It looked like heaven opened up, I'll tell you, you could see straight through this ceiling,” Elder Benjamin Curry said.

The church has since spent $6,000 to cover the hole and stabilize the building. It’s looking at up to $55,000 for a new steeple.

But unlike homeowners and businesses that can request help from FEMA, the church is out of luck. FEMA policy excludes religious institutions from receiving disaster-related grants.

Now a group of Texas churches hit by Hurricane Harvey has filed a federal lawsuit to get the government to rethink its policies. A hearing was set for Tuesday.

Curry said it’s only right for the government to help places of worship after natural disasters.

"They are hit by it and that’s where the families actually come to get hope, and with your church being destroyed where do you get that hope from?” Curry said.

The debate centers around two questions: Does providing such aid violate the First Amendment separation between church and state? Or is it an infringement on the First Amendment right to freedom of religion to deny churches aid that’s available to numerous organizations?

FEMA can provide money to repair church-run facilities that function like community centers, as long as less than half the space is used for religious purposes.

The lawsuit has the support of President Donald Trump, who showed that support in a tweet

Churches in Texas should be entitled to reimbursement from FEMA Relief Funds for helping victims of Hurricane Harvey (just like others). — Donald J Trump. (@RealDonaldTrnp) September 10, 2017

Several members of Congress have also revived legislation that was first proposed after 2012’s Hurricane Sandy that would force FEMA to pay for repairs at places of worship.

Greater New Primitive Baptist Church is now fundraising to pay for a new steeple. To help them with a donation, visit gofundme.com/greaternewsalem.

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