ectarian groups and politicians who want to promote "faith-based partnerships" between government and organized religion have a new ally in their latest legislative effort -- the Clinton White House. Supporters of the American Community Renewal Act, proposed two years ago by Rep. J.C. Watts (R-Oklahoma) reached an unprecedented agreement with the Clinton administration two weeks ago which calls for the "inclusion of faith-based organizations in the solution to addressing poverty" and operating taxpayer-funded funded social service programs, according to a dispatch from Watts' office.    The White House Office of the Press Secretary issued its own release, announcing that a deal had been struck between President Clinton and House Speaker Dennis Hastert. Without identifying the ACRA bill, the broadside instead referred to a vaguer "bipartisan legislative initiative on New Markets and revitalizing impoverished communities" which would include participation by "the private sector." The proposal calls for establishing 32 urban and 8 rural "Renewal Communities" under the aegis of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and a program of tax credits and other incentives to encourage business investment.

   Buried at the very end of the White House press release, though, is a section titled: "ALLOWING FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO QUALIFY FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE FUNDING." It adds, "The initiative allows faith-based substance abuse prevention and treatment programs to qualify for federal funds on the same basis as other non-profits consistent with the 1996 Welfare reform Act and the constitutional lines between church and state." The program would spend $5 billion in public funds over the next five years.

   The deal is a signal to Democrats and others to support the American Community Renewal Act (H.R. 815), which until recently had languished in the congressional hopper and was considered part of an extreme religious-right effort to meld government and sectarian proselytizing. Crafted in 1998 and formally introduced on February 24, 1999, the bill calles for the designation of "renewal communities" and stipulates that religious organization may solicit public funds to operate drug and alcohol abuse rehab programs, without having to alter their religious character.

   Watts' proposal also places the congress rather than the Supreme Court, in the constitutionally suspect role of being the nation's ultimate arbiter of legality. Under a section designated "NONDISCRIMINATION AGAINST RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS," H.R. 815 states:

"FINDINGS -- The Congress finds that the establishment clause of the first amendment to the Constitution of the United States does not require that --

(A) social welfare programs discriminate against faith-based providers of services: or

(B) faith-based providers of services, as a prerequisite to participation in Federal programs, abandon their religious character and censor their religious expression."

   The Act goes on to state that "Religious organizations are eligible to be program participants on the same basis as any other nonprofit private organization." Toward that end, any religious group taking public money would not be required to "alter its form of internal governance" or "remove religious art, icons, scripture, or other symbols" in order to participate.

   Religious groups receiving public money would also be free to hire only those who "adhere to the religious beliefs and practices of such organization; and, any rules of the organization regarding the use of drugs or alcohol," thus trumping civil rights and anti-discrimination statutes which apply to every other group. Those participating in the religion-based programs can be required to "actively participate in religious practice, worship and instruction; and ... follow the rules of behavior designed by the organizations that religious in content or origin."

   Religious groups receive another perk as well. While all other organizations receiving ACRA "Community Renewal" funding would have to meet stiff qualifications regarding training and background of personnel, religious groups which claim a "prior successful drug treatment" program would have those standards waived.

   AANEWS has learned that the ACRA, now in the House Budget Committee, will be scheduled for legislative mark-up later this month, and likely brought to the House floor for a vote in July. Although Watts' proposal has never made it past the committee process, the Oklahoma congressman's new standing as chairman of the Republican Conference gives him added clout in pushing the measure on capitol hill.

   The final legislative version may even be broader that the original wording in H.R. 815. Watts says that under the agreement with the White House, the fusion of the ACRA and the President's "New Market Initiative" would include subsidies for faith-based rehab programs both in and outside the targeted "renewal" areas.

[text only]