Bu$h Allie$ Plan to Rip Off U.S. for Billion$
Can anyone recall the first action Bush took as president? You know, the one that cut off federal aid for any program in the world that so much as mentioned abortion as an alternative, even when using non-U.S. funds? Contrast with what is below. I'd like to be more explicit, but I must run. Have to start preparing the application for $10 million in government grants for the Moonie-Scientology-Southern-Baptist-and-Other-Assorted Religious Nuts-Legitimate-Not-A-Cult-Church of the Americas."
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush established a White House office on Monday dedicated to
encouraging religious organizations to seek billions in federal dollars for helping address alcoholism, drug addiction, homelessness and other social ills.
By doing so, Bush drew the wrath of advocates of a strict separation between church and state. They warned they might file a legal challenge on grounds that it violates the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
Appearing with 35 religious leaders, Bush signed an executive order setting up the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. And he appointed University of Pennsylvania political science professor John DiIulio to head it.
Secondly, Bush signed an executive order he said would clear away regulatory barriers "that make private groups hesitate to work with government."
He directed the departments of Justice, Housing and Urban Development, Health and Human Services, Labor and
Education to open faith-based centers within 45 days to help eliminate regulatory and other obstacles to faith-based participation in providing social services.
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Bush's action drew a swift response from groups like the Americans United for Separation of Church and State. "We think it's a misguided public policy, and from a constitutional perspective, it's a nightmare," said a spokesman for the group, Steve Benen. "It's creating a new government bureaucracy created to funnel tax dollars to religious institutions. It is merging church and state at an unprecedented level."
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Rabbi David Saperstein, director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, said: "While constitutionally permissible in theory, in practice this office is woefully unwise. It signifies unprecedented government endorsement of religion."
Asked about the criticism, Bush said: "I am convinced that our plan is constitutional, because we will not fund a church or synagogue or mosque or any religion, but instead we'll be funding programs that affect people in a positive way." |
