LETTER: Bush’s faith-based iniatives examined

Dear Editor,

In a transcript of President Bush’s Faith-Based Initiatives proposal, it is stated: “The paramount goal is compassionate results … so long as they achieve valid public purposes, such as curbing crime, conquering addiction, strengthening families and neighborhoods, and overcoming poverty.” Nowhere in the transcript does it state that satanic religions, Islamic groups or Christian sects will be preferred one to the other. This executive order, which constitutes the charter of the program, establishes the criteria for any group to receive federal funds for their community program: valid public purposes. In the state of New Jersey, the governor gave a radio message citing examples of faith-based initiatives that have contributed positively to the communities in which they live. These examples include a Presbyterian church’s program to teach job skills to welfare recipients; a Muslim organization’s after-school program; a medical supply program started by the Temple Anshe Emeth and others. That state has already invested $10 million dollars, and will invest another $6 million this year in faith-based initiatives. These grants were awarded on the basis of the group’s ability to improve the community. Religious organizations aren’t in it for the money. Only a religion that teaches dishonesty would be dishonest enough to siphon public funds from its public programs into its private agendas. Conversely, the government has no interest in the private agenda of any religion, but wants agreed-upon social ills like crime, addiction and the breakdown of the family addressed by any who are willing to put forth that effort. Bigotry is intolerance of others’ race, religion or politics. However, the Executive Order states: “This delivery of social services must be results oriented and should value the bedrock principles of pluralism, nondiscrimination, evenhandedness, and neutrality.” Not the words of a bigot if ever I have known one.

Ricky Fielding