By Parker T. Williamson, The Layman

ACORN, identified by the Associated Press as “a scandal-tainted” community organizing group that has been denied federal funding by the U.S. Congress, has received multiple grants from agencies of the Presbyterian Church (USA). The ACORN acronym stands for the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now.

A 2008 grants and projects listing from the Presbyterian Hunger Program reveals a “general support” grant to ACORN’s office in Patterson, N.J. in the amount of $7,500. The Hunger Program grant gives the following description of ACORN’s work: “Organizes for public policy change around issues affecting the self sufficiency of ACORN’s minority and immigrant communities.”