Pennsylvania Awards Security Grants to Religious Organizations

The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency has awarded $10.8 million in security grants to 190 nonprofit organizations, including various Christian congregations. This initiative, which began following the 2018 Tree of Life Synagogue shooting, provides funding for security cameras, radio networks, and door lock systems to help protect religious sites from potential threats and hate crimes.

In this latest funding round, Protestant and Catholic groups received $1.75 million. Among the recipients, Living Word Community Church in Red Lion was awarded $56,838 for surveillance and communication upgrades following a security incident involving an intruder. Salem United Church of Christ in Bucks County received $45,500 to install cameras after facing protests related to their public stance on immigration. The state also allocated $6 million to Jewish organizations and $1.27 million to Muslim groups, reflecting a broader effort to address rising reports of hate crimes against diverse religious communities.