Hundreds Protest Bush Social, Political Agenda -- Atheists Speak Out

resident George W. Bush yesterday tried to use a commencement address at University of Notre Dame to revive his floundering faith-based initiative, and enlist the support of Roman Catholic leaders in his efforts to subsidize churches and other religious groups in providing services.

   He also excoriated American corporations and businesses for not giving more generously to religion-based charities, and pledged substantial increases in government grants to faith-based groups operating everything from low-income housing projects to drug rehab outreaches.

   The crowd of 2,500 graduates, parents and friends gave Bush frequent applause, but outside nearly two hundred people protested over a variety of issues, including the White House Office of Faith-based and Community initiatives. Mike Suetkamp, Indiana State Director for American Atheists, told Fox News and the South Bend Tribune newspaper that using public money to fund social programs was a violaion of the First Amendment separation of church and state. Over two-dozen Atheists and separationists carried banners and signs opposing the Bush initiative and declaring: "Their Religion -- Our Money -- No Way!"

   Other protesters challenged Bush over a number of issues including the environment and cut-backs in social services. The President focused most of his address, though, on an effort to revive his faith-based initiative which has divided even religious groups, and brought strong opposition from civil libertarians. As he has done in the past, Mr. Bush continued to deny that his federal initiative threatened the separation of church and state, or had anything to do with promoting religious belief.

   "Government should never fund the teaching of faith," he told the Notre Dame graduation audience, "but it should support the good works of the faithful." The President also called upon corporations and businesses to give more of their money to faith-based providers, noting that six out of the 10 largest corporate philanthropies in the country "explicitly rule out or restrict donations to faith-based groups."

   "The federal government will not discriminate against faith-based organizations, and neither should corporate America," said Bush. He cited work by groups like Catholic Charities, which already receives more than 60% of its annual operating budget from government programs.

   "Do critics really want to cut them off?" Bush asked. "Government loans send countless students to religious colleges. Should that be banned? Of course not."

   "Medicaid and Medicare money currently goes to religious hospitals. Should this practice be ended? Child-care vouchers for low-income families are redeemed every day at houses of worship across America. Should this be prevented?"

   Bush's Notre Dame appearance marks the fifth time that a U.S. President has spoken at the prestigious Catholic school, and continues the tradition established by his father who delivered a commencement speech nine years ago. It was also another indication of Bush's strategy in trying to mobilize America's largest religious denomination, the Roman Catholic Church, in his effort to sell the controversial faith-based initiative.

   "No doubt also," noted the South Bend Tribune newspaper, "Bush was seeking to make a good impression on Catholic voters, many of whom will follow accounts of his Notre Dame address."

   In the year 2000 election race, Catholics were one of several voting blocks targeted by the Republican campaign, along with suburbanites and Hispanics. While he did not win majorities, Bush narrowed the Democratic hold on these constituencies winning about 43% of the suburban vote, and closing in on the Hispanic block. Making a strong appeal on the abortion issue and the need for faith-based social services, Bush grabbed about 47% of the Catholic vote.

   Since then, Bush has assiduously courted Roman Catholic leaders, especially Philadelphia Cardinal Anthony J. Bevilacqua, who mobilized his archdiocese for the last election with a special "voters guide" circulated throughout area churches. Bevilacqua is also known within the church hierarchy as a staunch advocate of imposing sanctions on rebellious Roman Catholics who espouse beliefs contrary to church teachings. His political involvement in the year 2000 campaign was described by the Philadelphia Inquirer newspaper as "heralding a new era in Catholic activism."

   Bevilacqua has met twice with Bush since January, and the White House has not released information about what the two leaders have been discussing.

   Not even all Catholics, though, may be supporting Bush's faith-based agenda, or efforts by their leaders to ingratiate themselves with the new administration.

   Outside the University of Notre Dame campus on Sunday, numerous protesters held aloft signs declaring that the "W" In "George W. Bush" stands for "wrong," especially on issues like labor rights, the environment, tax breaks, the death penalty and other issues. One student declared, "After spending four years at an institution that teaches Catholic values, for Notre Dame to turn around and bring President Bush here is in contradiction ... of those values."

   Notre Dame political science professor Peter Walsh said that the invitation to Bush stemmed from "The urge to touch Caesar's hem," and added: "Commencement is a time to celebrate the values of our university. This is something George W. Bush is incapable of doing."

   Another faculty member, English professor Valerie Sayers, declared "the Catholic vote is not for sale," and criticized Bush's "compassionate conservatism."

   Bush advisors, though, praised the sectarian nature of the president's address. Robert P. George of Princeton University, described by the Washington Post as "A Catholic adviser" to Bush said that he was taking the Republican Party away from a libertarian focus and toward a social consciousness closely linked to Catholic doctrine. George praised the president for sticking to his conviction that religious groups "should not suffer discrimination when they compete for contracts to provide social services."

   Bush also played to Catholic symbolism, invoking Mother Teresa in his talk and supporting the church's stringent teachings on abortion. He praised the church and Notre Dame for calling "on all of us, Catholic and non-Catholic, to honor the family, to protect life in all its stages, to serve and uplift the poor."

   The President said that he will convene a special faith-based summit this fall at the White House in order to mobilize business and philanthropic leaders "to discuss ways they can provide more support to community organizations, both secular and religious."

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