he House of Representatives this afternoon passed the controversial "Community Solutions Act," H.R. 7, by a 233 - 198 vote and gave President Bush a major victory in his effort to use public money in order to fund religion-based social programs.

   Lawmakers resisted efforts to amend the measure. One proposal introduced by Rep. Charles Rangel of New York would have repealed that provision of the Act which immunizes churches and other houses of worship that accept public funding to by-pass state and local anti-discrimination statutes. The measure failed on a voice vote and a subsequent roll call. Critics have attacked H.R. 7, pointing out that it is the first federal program that would allow grantees to use religion as a litmus test in hiring practices.

   "Why does a Jewish lunch program need to hire only Jews to serve the soup?" asked Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) "Why does a Baptist church need to hire only Baptists to distribute blankets? Did the Good Samaritan ask the person in need if he were gay, or believed in a certain religion?"

   Representatives took up the measure as the first order of business, after key Republican leaders abruptly canceled debate and vote which had been expected yesterday. While GOP strategists gave no reason for the delay, sources say that a number of representatives continued to express concerns over the discriminatory aspects of the bill.

   During today's debate, lawmakers argued fiscal policy, the role of religion in the public square, and the separation of church and state.

   Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) warned that if religious groups began accepting public money to operate social program, the price would be heavy government regulation. "The IRS will have a field day," said Lee. She proposed to offer the First Amendment as an "amendment" to H.R. 7, and added, "The Bill of Rights means something, that we cannot establish a religion through the government..."

   Others admitted that religious groups already are provided with huge subsidies, but are prohibited from discriminating and may not presumably mix preaching and proselytizing with their social service mission. Rep. Maxine Waters (D-California) revealed that Lutheran Social Services currently receives $2.5 billion annually in subsidies, with Catholic Social Services receiving about $1.6 billion. She did not quote the source of those figures.

   Both Reps. John Conyers and Jerrold Nadler acknowledged that charities operated by religious groups do receive government money, but must establish separate corporations and avoid injecting sectarian content into their programs. Conyers spoke of "faith-based groups dispensing millions of dollars in social services," while Nadler, a New York Democrat, referred to an amount in the "billions of dollars" range.

   Conyers joined with Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Virginia) in criticizing the need for H.R. 7, and particularly the contention that the measure was necessary to give religious groups the funding required to address social problems. "Any program or group that can get funding under H.R. 7 can get funding today," said Scott, "but they can't discriminate."

   He added, "This bill isn't about new programs, since any program can be funded now. H.R. 7 just provides new discrimination."

   Scott recalled that a public law promoted by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1942 outlawed the use of tax funds for any group or project that discriminates on the basis of race or religion.

   Rep. Sheila Lee, who addressed the House chamber several times during the course of debate over the bill, denounced the idea of having "a referendum on faith" in awarding government contracts for religion-based programs, and quoted Madison's warning on establishing a religion and compelling citizens to worship a God.

   "Discrimination on the basis of religion somewhere is discrimination everywhere," Lee added.

   American Atheists President Ellen Johnson charged that today was an unfortunate step toward the creation of a "Religion Tax."

   "Representatives who opposed this bill had good reasons, including the fact that H.R. 7 discriminates on the basis of religion. But even if churches are permitted to take money and have to obey civil rights laws, it's still OUR money."

   Johnson added that the faith-based initiative "imposes a tax on 27 million Americans who profess no religious belief."

   H.R. 7 is co-sponsored by Reps. J.C. Watts (R-Oklahoma) and Tony Hall (D-Ohio). With today's vote, the measure heads for the U.S. Senate and another round of debate.

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