Many mainline churches and national non-profits fought hard to oppose President Bush's faith-based initiative plan. Why? It tears away at the separation of church and state.
I chaired the faith-based policy group of the National Coalition for the Homeless in 2001-2002 and we agreed with the United Methodist Church and the United Church of Christ (among others) that government should not be in the business of funding churches or religious groups to provide religious services. That does not mean that faith-based groups should not receive federal dollars. In fact, long before Bush came to office faith groups had been recipients of federal support. But back then there was a clear line drawn between the social services paid for with federal dollars and religious services. Now that line is blurred.
Bush couldn't get his plan through Congress and so signed executive orders requiring the government to fund church programs. And where has all that money gone?
The Washington Post reports today the money has been spent funding political allies of Bush's in the Religious Right. Yes, your federal dollars are being spent as pay back money to religious leaders who have put their loyalty to George W. Bush ahead of their loyalty to any church. When I directed the Goose Hollow Family Shelter at Portland's First United Methodist Church we wouldn't take federal money because we knew our church could not be an agent of the government.
The services being paid for by the president's faith-based initiatives are not held to the same professional standards as other recipients of federal dollars and are often based on "Scriptural authority" rather than any professional model of care.
Those living in poverty and receiving these services disserve better.
Related Link: Faith-Based Initiative/Charitable Choice
