Date posted: 2-20-01

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Faith-based programs welcome government help

By Sarah Roberts

DeKalb News Service

DeKALB --Local religious organizations that operate social programs could get a boost from an initiative proposed recently by President Bush.
The plan will allow religious groups to compete and receive grants to help cover the cost of assistance to social groups. The proposal also calls for tax breaks to encourage charitable contribution.
"Churches have a reputation for being very efficient and effective in delivering services," said Father Steve Knox of the Newman Catholic Center at NIU. "Their problem is lack of resources. I think President Bush would like to provide funds to allow these effective ministries to have an even greater impact."
Bush announced a plan Jan. 31 to increase the role of religious organizations in social programs. He announced his plan at The Fishing School in Washington, known for its after-school mentoring programs. He said the initiative would allow all religious groups the chance to receive funds by creating $24 billion in tax deductions and federal grants for charitable institutions over a 10-year period. In the past, welfare, drug treatment and community development programs have received most of the federal funds available.
"Government should not fear funding programs that can encourage people's lives," Bush said. "A compassionate society is one which recognizes the great power of faith, not a particular religion."
The Charitable Choice Provisions Act of 1996, signed into law by President Bill Clinton and the basis for Bush's plan, met little opposition. According to a new study found on ABCNews.com, Americans view the role of religion in public life with a "sense of openness and compromise."
Endorsers of the legislation, including former vice-presidential candidate Sen. Joseph Lieberman, say religious organizations will be given the funds to help people, not preach religion to them.
Opponents are concerned that the proposed legislation will blur the lines between church and state. Critics also think the bill will cause federal bureaucrats to choose among religions, including those with unpopular beliefs.
"As long as the government treats religion in a neutral fashion, no better or no worse then secular counterparts, the courts will usually say that the state's actions were constitutional, " said Mark Cordes, an NIU law professor. "There are potential constitutional issues there and, as applied, it may be unconstitutional, in some cases."
Cordes said problems could arise if religion is integrated as part of the social mission.
"Historically, one of the danger areas between church and state is when the government gives money to religion," Cordes said. "So long as the money is not directly supporting religious teachings and evangelism, I think this is constitutional because it fits within the neutrality approach."
According to the American Civil Liberties Union Web site, the initiative would "create government-funded discrimination in employment and services, as well as result in dangerous loosening of licensing and standards for providers of social services."
"Religious organizations are exempt from many civil rights laws and courts have allowed them to discriminate on the basis of their religious beliefs and teachings about race, religion, sexual orientation, gender and pregnancy status," according to the ACLU Web site. "That equation must change once religious organizations begin to use tax dollars."
"It is possibly a problem," said Cordes, "but I don't think the concept itself violates the First Amendment."
Cordes said when money begins to support religious instruction, it is potentially unconstitutional, even with the required secular counterpart.
The plan will create a new credit against state taxes for contributions to poverty- fighting organizations chosen by each state. It will allow for the contribution of money from Individual Retirement Accounts to charities without tax penalty. The idea will increase the tax deduction for corporation contributions and limit corporate liability for in-kind donations.
"Government, of course, cannot fund and will not fund religious activities," Bush said at the school. "But when people of faith provide social services, we will not discriminate against them."
Knox agreed, cautiously.
"I think it could be a good thing as long as the government didn't start to dictate how a church should run its ministry," he said, "and as long as a church didn't use those resources to proselytize the recipients of its social services."
During his campaign, Bush frequently mentioned the Inner Change program in a state prison near Houston, Texas. Although the program receives no state funding, it uses state-funded facilities. The program works to improve inmates' work prospects by providing training with computers and remedial education and an education in religion through Bible classes and meeting similar to those of a tent revival.

SOURCES:
1. Professor Mark Cordes, Northern Illinois University, Swen Parsons 195A email: mcordes@niu.edu office_phone: 753-0380
2. Father Steve Knox, Newman Catholic Center, Northern Illinois University email: sknox1@niu.edu office_phone: 758-6667
3. American Civil Liberties Union: http://www.aclu.org
4. http://www.foxnews.com: story by Laura Meckler, the Associated Press
5. http://www.cnn.com:
6. http://www.abcnews.com: stories by Josh Gerstein and Geraldine Sealey