White House delays 'Faith-Based'
initiative due to strong opposition from religious community
Bush plan is 'sinking faster than the XFL,' says AU's Lynn
Press release from Americans United for Separation of Church and State,
dated March 13, 2001.
[3-14-01]
President George W. Bush's plan to funnel billions in
tax money to churches and other religious organizations to fund
"faith-based" social services appears to be in increasingly
deep political trouble.
The Washington Post reported today that the
Bush administration "will delay action on parts of its plan to
channel more government money to religious charities until it can quiet
some of the surprisingly vehement opposition to the program."
Americans United for Separation of Church and State,
the leading national opponent of the measure, says the strong resistance
to the plan from across the religious and political spectrum proves that
the American people do not want entanglement between religion and
government.
"This plan is sinking faster than the XFL,"
said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United.
"People are abandoning the 'faith-based' initiative in droves
because they don't want government-funded religion.
"If Americans keep up the pressure on the White
House, the president will be forced to withdraw this initiative,"
Lynn continued. "Most Americans have a positive view of religion,
but they also value the separation of church and state. They rightly see
Bush's plan as an assault on an important constitutional
principle."
In recent weeks, numerous religious groups from all
points on the theological and political spectrum have expressed
opposition or concerns about the Bush proposal. Surprisingly, some of
the strongest opposition to the plan is coming from Religious Right
groups that enthusiastically backed Bush in the 2000 elections. Lynn
said the Religious Right leaders are right to be concerned.
"Even Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell realize
that this initiative is fraught with problems," Lynn added.
"Under Bush's plan, people will be forced to pay taxes for
religious groups they don't agree with or may even dislike, and
government will be entangled with religion in the process."
Last week John DiIulio, head of the White House Office
of Faith-Based and Community Partnerships, lashed out at Religious Right
critics of the plan, asserting that they are out of touch with the needs
of the inner-city poor.
At the same time, the plan has been hamstrung by
complaints that it will lead to government funding of religious
discrimination and that it could funnel tax money to controversial
religious organizations.
DiIulio and other members of the Bush administration
have pledged to slow down while they retool their approach. Lynn said he
remains skeptical.
"Government-funded religion is a bad idea whose
time should never have come," said Lynn. "There's just no way
to perfume this skunk. Instead, the administration should toss it on the
scrap heap, shut down the 'faith-based' initiative and go back to
basics. Let houses of worship and religious charities be funded by the
voluntary generosity of millions of Americans."
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Americans United is a religious liberty watchdog group
based in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1947, the organization represents
60,000 members and allied houses of worship in all 50 states.
Also See: AU's Top
10 Reasons Bush's "Faith-Based" Plan Is Wrong
