Faith-Based Iniatives
July 1, 2008 4 Comments
This was in the AP today (I’ll be expecting a bill):
Reaching out to evangelical voters, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is announcing plans that would expand President Bush’s program steering federal social service dollars to religious groups and – in a move sure to cause controversy – support their ability to hire and fire based on faith.
Obama was unveiling his approach to getting religious charities more involved in government anti-poverty programs during a tour and remarks Tuesday at Eastside Community Ministry in Zanesville, Ohio. The arm of Central Presbyterian Church operates a food bank, provides clothes, has a youth ministry and provides other services in its impoverished community.
“The challenges we face today, from putting people back to work to improving our schools, from saving our planet to combating HIV/AIDS to ending genocide, are simply too big for government to solve alone,” Obama was to say, according to a prepared text of his remarks obtained by The Associated Press. “We need all hands on deck.”But Obama’s support for letting religious charities that receive federal funding consider religion in employment decisions was likely to invite a storm of protest from those who view such faith requirements as discrimination.
Kuo called Obama’s approach smart, impressive and well thought-out but took a wait-and-see attitude about whether it would deliver.
“When it comes to promises to help the poor, promises are easy,” said Kuo, who wrote a 2006 book describing his frustration at what he called Bush’s lackluster enthusiasm for the program. “The question is commitment.”
Obama proposes to elevate the program to a “moral center” of his administration, by renaming it the Office of Community and Faith-Based Partnerships, and changing training from occasional huge conferences to empowering larger religious charities to mentor smaller ones in their communities.
He also proposes a $500 million per year program to provide summer learning for 1 million poor children to help close achievement gaps with white and wealthier students. A campaign fact sheet said he would pay for it by better managing surplus federal properties, reducing growth in the federal travel budget and streamlining the federal procurement process.
Like Bush, Obama was arguing that religious organizations can and should play a bigger role in serving the poor and meeting other social needs. But while Bush argued that the strength of religious charities lies primarily in shared religious identity between workers and recipients, Obama was to tout the benefits of their “bottom-up” approach.
“Because they’re so close to the people, they’re well-placed to offer help,” he was to say.
Obama does not support requiring religious tests for aid recipients nor using federal money to proselytize, the official said.
For the first time in this general election season I would like to applaud Sen. Obama. I do so for his truly Progressive position on charitable works. I have long believed that a partnership between the government and private / religious organizations is what is best for our country. Private organizatons do a tremendous amount of good in the United States. They are often more effective at delivering services and in connecting with individuals in the right way.The government has the deep pocket-book. Why not be smart and let the two work together?
The Bush iniative failed because there were not enough safeguards put in place to keep religion out of the programs. To be sure, if this program is ever to be successful there will be a lot of stumbles and a lot of trial and error. But there’s no reason the government can’t work with faith-based groups to help American citizens.
I hope to hear more positive and Progressive positions like this from Mr.Obama in the coming months.
Faith Based Initiatives also failed because it was heavily neglected after 9/11.
One plus of Obama reinvigorating the program would be that he’ll likely open it up to include more religions.
Makes me suspicious that he would wish to require that all religious organizations restructure themselves as fruity liberal organizations.
I’m confused about Obama’s faith based initiative. It sounds like his plan is to help fund religious programs so long as they’re secular, which is as it should be. But, why call it “faith based”? What is also not clear to me is whether secular charities will be eligible for less support because they’re not associated with a religious organization. Does this penalize non-religious groups?
I am also suspicious of Obama’s motivations because I worry he will try to ‘liberalize’ these programs by actually forcing churches to be more secular in order to get money. But my heart tells me his intentions are good. I think as a community organizer and someone who understands the important role churches play in minority communities, I think he is in a unique position to manage this program. If he is elected, I hope I am right.
As for requiring churches to be secular, he has stated he is okay with them requiring religious tests for employees but he doesn’t want that religion to interfere with their charitable works. I am fine with that approach.