Black Pastors Say They Have Trouble Accessing SBA Loan Program
With the vast majority of U.S. churches closed and the country in a deep recession, church finances are in peril. Some are seeking government money through a new SBA program.
A new government program that funnels taxpayer money to churches, synagogues and mosques has brought welcome relief to some financially stressed houses of worship, while leaving others — many of them serving communities of color — still struggling to survive.
"It's a huge boon for us," said Father Carl Beekman, parish priest at the Church of St. Mary, which serves about 1,300 families in Sycamore, Ill. Beekman learned this week that his church will receive a loan under the Paycheck Protection Program administered by the Small Business Administration.
With that assistance, part of a coronavirus rescue package enacted by Congress, Beekman
