'Charitable choice'
Can this really work -- are we going to be OK with tax money going to organizations that can discriminate based on faith?
Here's the scenario: The White House is enlisting black conservative pastors in an effort to get a faith-based bill passed, which would allow charities to discriminate based on a job applicant's religious beliefs. Current law forbid religious charities from receiving federal funding if they engage in discrimination.
For example, a Catholic organization receiving federal funding whould be able to hire only Catholics and Muslim organizations whould be able to receive funding while requiring employees to hold to an Islamic code of beliefs, reports Beliefnet.com.
But many civil rights groups and minority pastors have voiced concern about "charitable choice," saying it poses a threat to civil rights and violates the division of church and state. Critics include American Baptist Churches USA, the American Civil Liberties Union, the Baptist Joint Committee on Public Affairs, the NAACP, Interfaith Alliance and African American Ministers in Action.
Comments (2)
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The question for me is why are we talking about giving federal funds to charities at all? Shouldn't the government be spending money on governmental priorities, while charities raise money from donations given by people who share their beliefs and values?
It seems to me that this whole business of giving government money to religious organizations is a matter of the government artificially supporting those organizations. If there was ever a situation in which the government should not interfere, and allow the free market to decide the fate of something, it's the churches of this country. If they can't bring in enough donations to support themselves, they should close up shop, not go to the feds looking for a handout.
Posted on June 6, 2005 1:10 PM
Nancy, You should read "Uncle Sam's Plantation" by Star Parker sometime. Check out www.urbancure.org while you are at it. If more people understood what she has written about there would be no problems with anytype of faith based help groups.
Posted on June 8, 2005 5:11 PM