NewsMax.com
Monday, Jan. 29, 2001

In this, only the second, week of his presidency, he is putting into practice what he preached during his election campaign when he called for greater government assistance to, and cooperation with, what have come to be called "faith-based" organizations.

The overall price tag could be as much as $24 billion over 10 years, but one attraction of the plan on Capitol Hill is that it is expected to be less than the cost of the federal government's funding all those activities directly.

In one of his several meetings with lawmakers last week, Bush said:

"Government should not fear funding programs that can change people's lives. A compassionate society is one which recognizes the great power of faith, not a particular religion."

ABC News is reporting that:

Aides to the new president confirmed that on Monday he will announce creation of a White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives to coordinate religion-friendly policies at all government agencies, including an increase in the number of federal contracts issued to church-run and religious groups.

Then, later this week, Bush will send Congress his plan for tax credits, tax deductions and grants to assist charitable organizations.

Although the concept has broad bipartisan appeal, Bush's proposals that the government provide tax dollars to religious groups for drug treatment, housing and job training have alarmed civil libertarians and some representatives of minority religions who fear it will breach separation of church and state.

"What it does is really interject religion into the affairs of government and, soon, government in the affairs of religion," said Phil Baum, executive director of the American Jewish Congress. "That's deeply troublesome to us."

But Bush has said tax dollars "will never fund religion" and he will seek to ensure there is "a secular alternative available" for any government service provided by a religious group.

That hasn't dissuaded some critics, who have vowed to take the issue to court.

One of their complaints will be that Bush's program might put federal bureaucrats in the awkward position of choosing among religions, some of which may have unpopular beliefs.

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Bush Administration