News, Background, Talking Points...

Graphic by Ed Gauci

Faith Based Social Programs & the Threat to State-Church Separation

resident George W. Bush has established a special White House Office Of Faith-Based And Community Initiatives, with the goal of subsidizing social programs administered by sectarian religious groups. Already, several cities and states have set up similar programs, so-called "faith-based partnerships," diverting tax money to houses of worship and religion-affiliated organizations which operate social outresaches.The Bush inititiative, though, would expand both the scope and cost of these programs, and seriously erode the separation of church and state in America.

LIEBERMAN JOINS IN CALL TO USE PUBLIC FUNDS TO REPAIR "HISTORIC" CHURCHES (12-27-01) Sen. Joseph Lieberman joins with "Partners for Sacred Places" in demanding that Americans pay for repairs to dilapidarted houses of worship. American Atheists President Ellen Johnson blasts the move as "another step in leveling a Religion Tax on millions of Atheists, Freethinkers and other nonbelievers in order to subsidize the religion industry." (12-27-01) »   Story MIXED SIGNALS ON BUSH FAITH PLAN AS WHITE HOUSES LAUNCHES "GRAB IT WHILE YOU CAN" PROGRAM (12-8-01) Passage of the faith-based initiative may have to be posponed until 2002 say Capitol Hill sources. Meanwhile, the White launches a new effort to encourage religious groups to apply for money under existing programs in order to operate social service outreaches. (12-8-01) »   Story FAITH-BASED OFFICE CZAR LEAVING POST (8-19-01) »   Story LAST MINUTE ADD ON FOR FAITH-BASED FUNDING: $47 BILLION (8-7-01) An addendum to H.R. 7 orders more federal departments to make available their $47 billion in appropriations to bidding from faith-based social providers. (8-7-01) »   Story SALVATION ARMY EXPOSED IN BACK DOOR INFLUENCE PEDDLING SCHEME (7-15-01) One of the larges religious charities has covertly lobbied the White House in hopes of taking more public money, and still discriminating against gays when it comes to hiring practices. Should taxpayer be compelled to subsidize religion-based bigotry? New questions about Bush and his faith-based funding agenda... (7-15-01) »   Story GODLESS GROUPS STAND TOGETHER AND CHALLENGE FAITH-INITIATIVE (7-13-01) Representatives of America's diverse Atheist, Freethinker, Humanist and other nonbeliever organizations speak out in Washington, DC against the Bush faith-based initiative(7-13-01) »   Story SUIT EXPOSES USE OF LOTTERY REVENUE TO FUND RELIGIOUS GROUPS, PAGEANT (6-8-01) A Indiana state public fund diverted money to voucher schemes, Roman Catholic schools, and even a religious Easter pageant (6-8-01) »   Story FAITH-BASED TREATMENT DIRECTOR BOASTS OF EVANGELICAL CONVERSION FOR "COMPLETED JEWS" (5-28-01) An official for Teen Challenge International admits that his tried to convert Jews to Evangelical Christianity. This, say critics, is more proof that the Bush initiative promises public money for sectarian proselytizing.(5-28-01) »   Story BUSH TRIES TO REVIVE FLAGGING FAITH-BASED INITIATIVE AT NOTRE DAME TALK -- ATHEISTS, OTHER GROUPS PROTEST (5-23-01) President George W. Bush again calls for support of his floundering faith-based initiative, and excoriates American business for not giving more money to religious charities. (5-23-01) »   Story NEW FEDERAL GRANT PROGRAM -- RELIGIOUS GROUPS ONLY NEED APPLY FOR PUBLIC MONEY (5-20-01) Tucked away in the current federal budget for the Department of Health and Human Services is a new $4 million entitlement program that will give funding only to religious groups operating faith-based AIDS awareness and drug prevention outreaches. (5-20-01) »   Story NEW DRUG CZAR SEEKING WIDER ROLE FOR RELIGION, FATH-BASED SOCIAL AND REHAB OUTREACHES (5-16-01) John P. Walters, the man selected as the nation's new top drug law cop, wants religious groups to have access to your money in order to operate faith-based rehabilitation programs. (5-16-01) »   Story CLERICS, LAWMAKERS RALLY AT CAPITOL HILL FAITH-BASED SUMMIT (4-27-01) Rep. J.C. Watts presides over a closed-door rally of religious and political leaders promoting the federal faith-based initiative. One key supporter, Bishop Carlton Pearson, declares "The wall that separates church and state is crumbling -- the fall is imminent." Find out about the threat of a "Religion Tax" on the American people! (4-29-01) »   Story A STARK TRUTH FOR POLICY MAKERS: DATA LACKING TO SUPPORT CLAIMS OF FAITH-BASED SOCIAL PROGRAM SUCCESS (4-25-01) Are claims of high success rates from faith-based providers confirmed by good empirical evidence? Even supporters of such programs now admit that data is lacking. (4-27-01) »   Story DIIULIO BOMBSHELL: AMERICANS MUST PAY FOR "FAITH-BASED" BRICKS-AND-MORTAR PRESERVATION REPAIRS John DiIulio, director of the new White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, scolds Americans for not considering dilapidated urban churches as "civic assets," and says that taxpayers should provide money for repairs and infrastructure improvements. (4-8-01) »   Story A WIDENING CLERICAL AND CULTURAL DIVIDE OVER FAITH-BASED FUNDING Religious leaders are dividing over President Bush's new faith-based social program initiative. Black clerics seem more willing to overlook the constitutional problems of government aid to churches, while conservatives and mainstream white Protestant denominations question whether the program will lead to state-church entanglement. (4-8-01) »   Story "ATLANTA HORROR CHURCH" SCENE OF WHIPPINGS, BIBLE-DISCIPLINE Authorities take dozens of youngsters into protective custody after allegations of ritual whippings and beatings at a fundamentalist church in Atlanta. The case raises serious questions about the faith-based initiative. Would public money be given to religious groups which preach a stern doctrine of "bible discipline" and other forms of punitive violence directed against children? (3-28-01) »   Story PHILADELPHIA FAITH-BASED DIRECTOR CHARGED WITH THEFT, BUT MAYOR EXPANDS CONTROVERSIAL PROGRAM Philadelphia, the "cradle of liberty," is fast becoming a bellwhether in an unconstitutional experiment to subsidize religion-based social programs. The city's faith-based director has been charged with theft, but remained on the public payroll. Without more accountability, faith-based social programs could invite not only violations of the First Amendment, but corruption as well. (3-17-01) »   Story FAITH-BASED OFFICE SINKING? RELIGIOUS RIGHT ABANDONS SHIP, FALWELL BLASTS FUNDING FOR ISLAMIC SOCIAL PROGRAMS Televangelist Jerry Falwell and Christian Coalition head Pat Robertson are among key religious right leaders expressing doubts about the new federal faith-based initiative. Falwell frets that with government funding may come burdensome rules and regulations. He also says that Islamic groups and fringe sects should not qualify for funding, and that only "established" religious outreaches be given public funds. (3-11-01) »   Story LIEBERMAN PRAISES "NEW SPIRITUAL AWAKENING," REAFFIRMS SUPPORT FOR FAITH-BASED LEGISLATION Sen. Joseph Lieberman, mentioned as a potential presidential candidate for 2004, declares that the Nation of Islam, Moonies and other fringe groups should be eligible for taxpayer funding of religion-tained social programs. Lieberman is evidence that it's not just Republicans, but liberal Democrats as well, who are abandoning support for the complete separation of church and state. (3-4-01) »   Story RELIGION TAX OFFICE OPENS AS FRINGE GROUPS POISED TO DEMAND CASH Public money for private religion -- it's not just for "mainstream" denominations! As President Bush's new White House Office for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives opens, concerns that Scientology, the Moonies and other fringe religious sects may demand funding percolates through capitol hill cloakrooms and the news media. "We welcome all religion," declares Bush. We do not impose any religion." (2-21-01) »   Story BUSH PROMOTES FAITH AT PRAYER BREAKFAST: BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FOR NEW WHITE HOUSE OFFICE President Bush addresses the annual National prayer Breakfast, and calls for a greater role for religion in both national and international affairs. (2-3-01) »   Story	GOOD GOD! FAITH-BASED SCAMS PROLIFERATE, RAISE QUESTIONS ABOUT FEDERAL, LOCAL FUNDING INITIATIVES (8/13-01) »   Story WHITE HOUSE REPORT CALLS FOR END TO "BARRIERS" FOR FAITH-BASED FUNDING (8-19-01) A questionable White House "advocacy" report faults government agencies for not making enough taxpayer money available to religious groups seeking to operate faith-based programs, and calls for an end to "barrier" in creating a entitlement program for organized religion (8-19-01) »   Story DISTRICT JUDGE UPHOLDS FIRING OF LESBIAN BY BAPTIST PROVIDER(7-27-01) A U.S. District judge rules that a Baptist group which operates homes for juveniles under a contract with the State of Kentucky did not break the law when it dismissed a woman identified as a lesbian. (7-27-01) »   Story LIEBERMAN CRAFTING REVISED FAITH-BASED BILL: THE COMING LIBERAL SELL OUT ON THE RELIGION TAX IN AMERICA? (7-24-01) Sen. Joseph Lieberman is reportedly at work on compromise legislation that would fund faith-based social programs, but require providers to obey local and state anti-discrimination statutes. (7-24-01) »   Story SURVEY OF SOCIAL PROGRAMS, REPORTS OF ANOTHER 'BIBLE DISCIPLINE' ABUSE CASE RAISE QUESTIONS ABOUT FAITH-BASED INITIATIVE (7-8-01) Will taxpayers end up funding "Bible discipline" programs that abuse youngsters in their attempt to inculcate religious faith? (7-8-01) »   Story BUSH EXPLOITS JULY 4 UNITY CELEBRATION TO PROMOTE FAITH-BASED AGENDA Bush heads to Philadelphia to promote his initiative, and American Atheists President Ellen Johnson charges that GB 'is a divider, not a uniter." (7-7-01) »   Story GOV. JEB BUSH'S "FRONT PORCH FLORIDA" PROGRAM IN TROUBLE Jeb Bush's grassroots community and faith-based urban renewal initiative is failing in all of the initial six communities involved. Read a special report on this expensive entitlement for religious groups by C.F. Sabourin. (5-13-01) »   Story CHARITABLE CHOICE, FAITH-BASED PARTNERSHIPS AND THE PUBLIC FUNDING OF RELIGION Schemes to involve religious groups in the operation of so-called "faith-based social service programs threatens First Amendment separation, and subject all Americans to a "Religion Tax." Get the history of charitable choice, faith-based partnerships and other plans to create a huge entitlement program for organized religion! »   Story ENTITLEMENT PROGRAM FOR CHURCHES WAS KEY PART OF BUSH PRESIDENTIAL EFFORT While a candidate for the White House, George Bush first unveiled his plan to establish a federally-funded program to subsidize faith-bsased programs during a campaign stop in Indianapolis. (7-23-99) »   Story ONE VOTE IN SUPREME COURT CASE UPHELD STATE AID TO RELIGIOUS GROUPS In the 1988 BOWEN v. KENDRICK case, the high court upheld the use of public funds to assist religious groups operating social programs. Did the 5-4 decision establish an unrealistic legal precedent? The case for a viewer of the BOWEN decision... (1-31-01) »   Story TRANSCRIPT OF EXECUTIVE ORDER ESTABLISHING WHITE HOUSE OFFICE OF FAITH-BASED AND COMMUNITY INITIATIVES Newly-elected President George W. Bush didn't wait for congressional approval before embarking on crusade to obtain public funding of faith-based social programs; he simply signed two constitutionally-suspect Executive Orders creating a new department, and ordering existing government agencies to reach out to churches and other religious groups. (1-31-01) »   Story AMERICAN ATHEIST PRESIDENT WARNS NATIONAL PRESS CLUB MEDIA CONFERENCE: BUSH PLAN THREATENS SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE! The Bush faith-based initisative threatens the constitutional separation of government and religion, warns American Atheists President Ellen Johnson. Read the transcript of Ms. Johnson's talk to the "DEFENDING THE WALL" conference at the National Press Club, January 19, 2001 in Washington, DC. »   Story Pics from the American Atheist White House Protest, 2-24-01 CANDIDATES OF BOTH MAJOR PARTIES BACKED FAITH-BASED FUNDING, "PARTNERSHIPS" The year 2000 election campaign was not only a high water mark in the use of religious rhetoric and display as a campaign ploy, but both the GOP and the Democrats called for expanded tax subsidies of faith-based social programs... »   Lieberman: No freedom FROM religion (10-26-00) »   Elelction 2000 -- a religious cold war of words (8-25-00) »   Bow, grovel and pray -- Democrats retreat, Republicans preach(8-17-00) »   Atheists speak out at Philly GOP confab (7-31-00) »   Candidates cite faith as credential for public office (12-23-99) »   Bush calls for federal "Office of Faith-Based Action" (7-23-99) »   Gore wants "new partnership" between church, state (5-26-99) FAITH GROUPS ANXIOUS TO GRAB SOCIAL SERVICE FUNDS, SURVEY REPORTS Even without direct federal support, dozens of religious groups are already using public funds and benefitting from state initiated "faith-based partnerships" and other "collaborations." Even though they are using taxpayer money, these same groups may discriminate in hiring practices; and there is little oversight and accountability. (5-1-00) »   Story BUSH OPEN TO COMPROMISE ON LIEBERMAN FAITH-BASED FUNDING BILL (7-29-01) »   Story HOUSE PASSES H.R. 7, FAITH-FUNDING SCHEME (7-19-01) The House of Representatives passes a major plank in President Bush's federal faith-based initiative (7-19-01) »   Story »   Roll Call HOUSE PREPARES FOR VOTE ON H.R. 7 (7-17-01) »   Story LAWMAKERS TWEAK FAITH-BASED TAX SCHEME IN HOPES OF PASSAGE Hoping to salvage the federal faith-based initiative, House lawmakers are working hard to craft a compromise that will pass constitutional muster. Can it be done? (6-28-01) »   Story WATTS, SANTORUM BILL INTRODUCED TO ENERGIZE FAITH-BASED INITIATIVE Legislation in the U.S. House and Senate is introduced to support the Bush faith-based initiative. Reps. J.C. Watts, Jr. (R-OK) and Tony Hall (D-Ohio) have filed H.R. 7, The "Community Solutions Act" which expands the charitable choice provision of the 1996 welfare reform act. A Senate bill promoted by Pennsylvania Republican Rick Santorum and Connecticut Democrat Joe Lieberman offers new deductions for contributions to private and religious groups. (3-25-01) »   Story

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