Grant to rebuild church canceled

October 9, 2009 (CHICAGO) Atheist activist Rob Sherman sued to block the grant after the agreement between the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and Pilgrim Baptist was signed in June of 2008.

The money was promised to the church by ex-Governor Rod Blagojevich.

It was supposed to pay for the rebuilding of the church, which was destroyed by fire in January 2006.

State officials say the grant was cancelled because of "insufficient appropriation."