February 20, 2001
Bush's Call to Church Groups
Attracts the Untraditional
By LAURIE GOODSTEIN
<snip>
There are a few clues so far to how the Bush
administration will look on proposals from less
traditional religious groups.
In an interview with The New York Times during the
campaign, Mr. Bush was asked if, for example, he
would approve of government financing for a Church of
Scientology antidrug program. He answered: "I have a
problem with the teachings of Scientology being
viewed on the same par as Judaism or Christianity.
That just happens to be a personal point of view. But I
am interested in results. I am not focused on the
process."
<snip>
The White House Office on Faith- Based and
Community Initiatives has already come under pressure
from one religious group to deny government contracts
to another. In recent weeks, the Anti-Defamation
League, a leading Jewish group, has lobbied behind the
scenes for assurances that the administration will not
enter into partnerships with the Nation of Islam, whose
leader, Louis Farrakhan, has a history of anti- Semitic
statements.
Anti-Defamation League leaders met on Feb. 12 with
John DiIulio Jr., who is heading the president's
program, and say they left reassured that the president
would not allow financing for the Nation of Islam's
programs. Mr. Bush told The Austin
American-Statesman during the campaign, "I don't see
how we can allow public dollars to fund programs
where spite and hate is the core of the message."
The Nation of Islam did not respond to repeated
requests for interviews.
Mr. Bush has told religious leaders that his program
will allow them greater leeway to integrate their
teachings into their community service and still be
eligible for federal aid.
<snip>
nytimes.com |
