Should they be reimbursed?

As the above linked Washington Post article states, FEMA is considering for the first time reimbursing faith based organizations for some of the costs spent during Hurricane Katrina to house and feed evacuees.

I think to fairly evaluate this the first question is why? That's obvious, traditionally faith based organizations only provide localized first responder type help until Red Cross and FEMA step in. That did not happen this time because the numbers of those who needed help is larger and the known issues with both Red Cross and FEMA as far as time frame.

Non-secular not for profits are eligible for reimbursement, so if it does not violate their non-profit status to accept reimbursement for specified expenses why the difference if it is faith based for this situation? Barry Lynn of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, seems to believe that even if these faith based organizations are asked by the local or federal government to assist in sheltering people that by virute of being faith based they are required to continue to provide "charity" no matter that it is not the traditional length or that in many cases this financially isn't something all of these faith based organizations can do long term.

This is a failure of the government both local and federal in not providing adequate housing for these people, not a failure on the part of the faith based organizations. To merely have the attitude of "oh well you're a religious organization so provide charity and shut up about it" or to demand that any of them that do accept FEMA dollars should loose their tax exempt status as I've seen stated on the blogosphere is wrong.