Read My Lips - the blog

Separation of Church & State

Several Congressional lawmakers live under a roof subsidized by Christian "Foundation." --- UPDATE: See this!

Other than Mr. Doyle and Mr. DeMint, current and former lawmakers who have lived in the C Street house declined to comment. "We feel like it's nobody's business but our own," Mr. Largent said.

That desire for privacy is unsettling to Barry Lynn, a United Church of Christ minister who heads watchdog group Americans United for the Separation of Church and State.

"What concerns people is when you mix religion, political power and secrecy," Mr. Lynn said. "Members of official Washington should always be open and direct about the groups they choose to join, just to dispel any concerns that there's an inappropriate or unconscious agenda in these groups."

Lawmakers living under religion's roof is not necessarily problematic, Mr. Lynn said, "as long as there are no sweetheart deals that are being made that could trade low rent for access."