In January 2001, President Bush announced the establishment of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives,and acording to pewforum.org,"...many find the practical implications of this idea troubling. In particular, the public expresses strong concerns about both the influence of government on particular religious organizations and the impact of religious groups on the people they are trying to help. Americans also have concerns about government-funded organizations hiring only those who share their belief."
Certainly many religious organizations have a history of helping the less fortunate,and some are quite good at it,but can (should) the government give tax dollars to religious organizations if they discriminate in hiring on religious grounds?
It seems any faith-based organization which participates in the program will eventually be forced to comply with federal guidelines,hire those who qualify regardless of religious preferences,and become in essence a secular organization just as ineffectual as federal and state programs,and lose the qualities that made them effective to boot.I'm not a religious person,but I think religious charities can be more effective,and truer to their faith by not accepting government money.Sometimes it is in the best interest of church to separate itself from state IMO.What do you think of the the faith-based initiative?
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Originally Posted by TheBigDog
...and the secularists who preach acceptance and brotherhood and understanding systematically try to remove all religion from society.
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I'm not aware of any secularists or secular organizations trying to remove
all religion from society.Can you give an example?
