Bush's faith based initiative

theist · December 13, 2002

Bush moves ahead with faith-based plan

Critics say move erodes church-state separation

Thursday, December 12, 2002 Posted: 7:32 PM EST (0032 GMT)

PRESIDENT BUSH:

Signed executive order requiring federal agencies to provide equal treatment for charities

Directed FEMA to revise its policy on disaster relief for faith-based non-profits

Ordered opening of new faith-based and community initiative offices at the Department of Agriculture and the Agency for International Development

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania (Reuters) -- President Bush issued an order Friday stepping up government support for religious charities, an initiative that critics say could violate constitutional separations between church and state.

"If a charity is helping the needy it should not matter if there's a rabbi on the board, or cross or a crescent on the wall or a religious commitment in the charter.

"The days of discriminating against religious groups just because they are religious are coming to an end," Bush told a White House-organized conference on faith-based and community initiatives.

Bush's initiative to support religious charities was one of his top priorities upon taking office in 2001.

But it stalled when Democrats objected to Republican provisions that would exempt religious-based charities from anti-discrimination laws in hiring.

The initiative could regain momentum since Republicans recaptured the Senate in mid-term elections last month. Sen. Rick Santorum, a Pennsylvania Republican, said after the speech he would reintroduce a scaled-back measure that failed to pass earlier.

Critics lashed out at Bush, accusing him of enacting some of the most controversial aspects of his faith-based initiative by presidential fiat.

"The American people should be very scared of what the president has done today," said Rep. Jerrold Nadler, a New York Democrat, who accused Bush of bypassing Congress and the Constitution "in legalizing government-funded religious discrimination."

The measure signed by Bush would allow religious charities which contract with the government to provide social services to discriminate in their hiring. But charities seeking grants remain subject to anti-discrimination provisions under what White House officials said was a confusing array of laws that need to be changed.

The former head of the faith-based initiative, John DiIulio, was quoted in a recent magazine article as saying the White House missed a chance to pass the legislation by ignoring moderates in Congress and catering to religious fundamentalists. DiIulio later apologized for his comments.

Religious conservatives have favored generous support for the charitable activities of religious groups, while liberals and moderates have been wary of measures that could end up supporting direct religious activities.

After addressing the crowd in DiIulio's hometown of Philadelphia, Bush signed an executive order requiring that federal agencies ensure that their policies do not discriminate against organizations based upon religion.

The order is designed to end what officials say is a practice of discouraging religious groups or those with religious-sounding names from seeking grants for their social-service programs.

The order would make clear that organizations cannot use government funds for "inherently religious" activities.

"I recognize that government (has) no business endorsing a religious creed or directly funding religious worship or religious teaching," Bush said.

"Yet government can and should support social services provided by religious people as long as those services go to anyone in need, regardless of their faith. And when government gives that support, charities and faith-based programs should not be forced to change their character or compromise their mission," Bush added.

Bush will also require that religious nonprofit organizations be eligible for federal aid when they are damaged in a disaster, retroactive to January, 2001. The change was due to an appeal by the Seattle Hebrew Academy, a private religious school denied relief after an earthquake.

In addition, Bush is to sign an order establishing new centers for faith-based initiatives within the Agriculture Department and the Agency for International Development to review existing efforts within the agencies. Several other cabinet agencies already have similar centers.