February 10, 2002

STOP LATEST "COMPROMISE" SCHEME ON FAITH-BASED INITIATIVE
Your Letters To Congress Needed Now

The White House and Capitol Hill lawmakers have agreed on a "compromise" bill on President Bush's faith-based initiative.

Crafted by Sens. Joseph Lieberman (D-Conn.) and Rick Santorum (R-PA.), the measure claims to rely on voluntary private and philanthropic contributions to charitable groups, including houses of worship operating faith-based social programs.

While the bill supposedly avoids constitutional and other problems found in earlier faith-based funding measures, this legislation -- dubbed the "Charity Aid, Recover and Empowerment Act of 2002" -- would still tax America's millions of Atheists, Freethinkers and other of "no religion."

-- CARE would "sneak" money to churches and other houses of worship through funding mechanisms like the "Compassion Capital Fund." Major federal departments would offer "technical assistance" to help churches, mosques and temples write grants and incorporate faith-based programs.

-- Title VI of the CARE legislation would use disingenuous "Social Services Block Grants" to stream up to $2 billion in fiscal 2003 for faith-based programs. The Block Grants essentially "launder" tax revenues which trickle down from Washington to state and local funding agencies which then turn our money over to faith-based operators. Supporters hope this "back door" funding will allow CARE to pass constitutional muster.

-- It's all about helping religion, and exploiting "good works" on behalf of sectarian proselytizing! If lawmakers and religious groups really wanted to deal with poverty and other social ills, they would fund existing programs instead of cutting them back. The real purpose is to "privatize" welfare and revitalize many inner-city churches by setting them up in the "business" of operating social programs that are saturated with religious ideology.

Congress needs to hear from you now! Let your Representatives and Senators know that you oppose the CARE entitlement program for organized religion!

* Check out our Tips On Contacting Congress. We urge you to send "snail mail" and faxes, or make personal phone calls to voice your opinion.

* Learn more about the faith-based initiative.

* Let us hear from you! We'll post sample letters on the Action Alert web site. Email a copy of your letter to ccletters@atheists.org.

* Spread the word! Circulate copies of this Action Alert!

* Find out who your representative is and where to write. We urge you to send a typed or hand-written letter, or send a fax, since these have far more impact than alternatives such as e-mail.

[text only]