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April 07, 2009

Obama and Church/State separation

JTA has an interesting piece about how Obama
s faith-based office has specific goals.

Joshua DuBois, executive director of the office, said the goal of the Bush administration's faith-based office to "level the playing field" for faith-based organizations when bidding for government grants was important, but that the new president's goal was to utilize the knowledge and expertise of religious and community organizations to achieve particular policy goals. Those priorities include addressing domestic poverty and contributing to the economic recovery, promoting responsible fatherhood, reducing unintended pregnancies and the need for abortion, and enhancing interreligious dialogue and cooperation. He also emphasized that the administration wanted a "policy-based partnership," and that the office did not have a political or advocacy-based agenda.

As a staunch supporter of Church/State separation I was uncomfortable with George W. Bush opening the office of faith-based initiatives. I remain uncomfortable with it under Barack Obama. But DuBois seems intent on alleviating such concerns.

Strengthening the "legal and constitutional footing" and drawing "appropriate legal lines" for faith groups receiving government dollars were also a priority and another way the office would differ from the Bush administration's faith-based operations, said DuBois. He did not go into specifics on legal issues but told the group he wanted to "work with you all on that process."

But I'm still uncomfortable with it due in part to as yet undecided questions that go to the heart of Church/State separation.

The most contentious legal issue is whether faith-based groups receiving federal funds should be able to take religion into account when hiring, which groups were allowed to do during the Bush administration. Opponents say it amounts to federally-funded religious discrimination, while supporters say it is essential to maintaining the religious character of the organization. When Obama established the faith-based office in February, a legal review was in put in place but no decision was made on the employment issue.

Personally, I much prefer a sharp, brightly lit line.

Posted by Kevin at April 7, 2009 09:58 AM