A column in Sunday’s Indianapolis Star newspaper and the Indystar.com website quoting that Indianapolis/Marion County Public Safety Director Troy Riggs was upset that more Indianapolis churches hadn’t contributed to the effort to raise funds to employ scores of Indianapolis youth jobs this summer created some concern among Indianapolis ministers, pastors and religious leaders. In a column written by Star columnist Erika Smith, Riggs was quoted as saying “We didn’t get a dime from any church” referring to efforts by the Indianapolis Public Safety Foundation to raise money to fund summer jobs for youth. Smith’s column also quoted Riggs saying, “We have a group of wealthy, predominantly suburban churches that are against abortion. Why aren’t these churches helping these young mothers (who choose to have their babies)?” The article and Riggs quotes produced pushback from ministers to the newspaper’s comments section and in calls to Public Safety officials. Appearing in an exclusive extended live Afternoons with Amos interview, Director Riggs tried to explain and clarify his remarks saying that he wasn’t the pointing the figure any at any particular church. In the interview with Amos, Riggs acknowledged that there’s lots of churches in Indianapolis doing great work with young men and young women and ministering to those in need. Riggs also said that his remarks weren’t meant to be disrespectful to the church in general or Black churches in particular. Riggs explained that Indianapolis must deal and come to grips with the social ills that in part cause and breed conditions for crime. And Riggs feels that Indianapolis churches, as well as the private sector and others could be doing much more. Click the Link to Read The Star Column and Riggs’ Quotes That Started the Uproar. INDY STAR COLUMN: TROY RIGGS ASKS WHERE ARE CHURCHES IN CRIME FIGHT Click the Media Player to Hear Director Troy Riggs Full Interview With Amos. ©2014 WTLC/Radio One. Runs 16 Minutes.
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