Bush Creates Faith Office

Bush Creates Faith Office

NewsMax.com Wires
Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2001

WASHINGTON (UPI) – President Bush on Monday signed an executive order creating a White House office aimed at linking religious organizations with federal funding to run social service programs in their communities.

"When we seek social needs in America, my administration will look first to faith-based programs and community groups, which have proven their power to save and change lives," Bush said during a morning news conference.

The White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives would allow religious organizations and secular groups to compete for federal funding to run social service programs such as welfare-to-work and drug treatment. Churches have been restricted from receiving certain government funding to run their programs.

Bush named University of Pennsylvania political science professor John J. Diluilo Jr. to lead the new office. Diluilo will report directly to Bush.

Bush also named former Indianapolis Mayor Steve Goldsmith to serve on the board of the Corporation for National Service, which oversees the AmeriCorps program. The corporation works with governor-appointed state commissions, nonprofits, religious groups, schools and other civic organizations to provide volunteer opportunities.

"It's a real honor," Diluilo said after the signing. "I'm looking forward to an effort that would identify promising models."

Diluilo said the faith leaders who represented a cross-section of the nation's religious community helped provide a baseline to determine what nonprofits and religious groups should do to put their programs in place.

A second order signed by Bush established centers in the Labor, Justice, Education, and Housing and Urban Development departments that would re-examine regulations allowing private groups to work with federal agencies. And Bush planned to send a proposal to Capitol Hill today allowing Americans to deduct charitable donations without itemizing them at tax time.

Bush made his announcement flanked by 35 religious leaders, including the Rev. Walter Fauntroy, who served for 20 years as a U.S. congressman. Fauntroy said he supported Bush's plan to give funding to the religious groups and was impressed with the president's initiative.

"I hope this segues into greater involvement for nonprofits, but also for the private sector," Fauntroy said.

Bush addressed concerns of self-described civil libertarians worried that his action would erode what they claim is a constitutional firewall between church and state. The new office will not fund the religious activities of any group but will not discriminate against them, the president said.

"As long as there are secular alternatives, faith-based charities should be able to compete for funding on an equal basis and in a manner that does not cause them to sacrifice their mission," Bush said.

As a veteran of Capitol Hill, Fauntroy said he was unfazed by the arguments that a faith-based action office was located in the White House.

"Income, education, health, justice and housing. That is what people care about," said Fauntroy, who represented Washington in Congress from the late 1960s into the late 1970s.

The Anti-Religious Left Objects

Still, some left-wing groups opposed the action, saying it violated what they claim is constitutionally required "separation of church and state," and could ultimately compromise the spiritual mission of religious organizations. Bush's action has drawn fire from American Civil Liberties Union, Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, and leftist groups in his home state of Texas.

"I am alarmed that you just start mixing faith-based stuff in," said James Harringon, president of Texas Civil Rights Project, a group that filed a lawsuit in Austin opposing a faith-based welfare program. "This is so misguided. It's an unnecessary entanglement of church and state."

Harrington said he expected legal challenges to Bush's plan to spring up around the country.

"It's a very crass signal to the right-wing religionists who supported him," he said.

White House officials said the funding initiative would allow cash-strapped organizations to provide help to alcoholics, drug addicts and prisoners, as well as provide services such as child care. While religious groups would be able to tap into the pool of money to help fund their programs, they would not be able to use government funds for the religious portion of their church functions. It is unclear exactly how the administration planned to ensure groups do not breach the line between their government-funded and faith programs.

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