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Bush Unveils New Faith-Based Social Services Initiative
WASHINGTON, Jan 29 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - U.S. President George W. Bush on Monday unveiled a controversial plan to arm religious entities on the front lines of charitable causes like drug treatment and prison counseling with federal funds.
"We are called by conscience to respond" to the nation's most intractable social ills, declared the president, who planned to send funding requests for the initiative to U.S. lawmakers Tuesday.
"There are still deep needs and real suffering in the shadow of America's affluence, problems like addiction and abandonment and gang violence, domestic violence, mental illness and homelessness," he said.
Critics charge the plan, which would reportedly send billions of public dollars into the groups' coffers over the next decade, would erode what they say is the wall between church and state erected by the U.S. Constitution.
Bush, noting that government "will never be replaced by charities and community groups," countered, "we will not fund the religious activities of any group, but when people of faith provide social services, we will not discriminate against them."
With two decrees, Bush created the White House Office of Faith-based and Community Initiatives and ordered key federal agencies - the Departments of Justice, Housing and Urban Development, Labor and Education - to clear what he called "bureaucratic" obstacles to working with faith-based groups.
"Government should never fund religion. It can fund the soup, it can fund the shelter, it shouldn't fund the Bibles," said Steve Goldsmith, a former mayor of Indianapolis, Indiana, who will advise the president on the effort.
The Republican leader also tapped University of Pennsylvania political science professor John DiIulio to head the unprecedented White House office.
Bush, who during his campaign promised to unleash "armies of compassion" on some of the most intractable U.S. social problems, welcomed representatives of some 30 Christian, Jewish, and Muslim groups to the signing ceremony.
The president, a regular churchgoer who said during the Republican primary campaign that his favorite philosopher is Jesus, was to court religious leaders all week and attend a traditional National Prayer Breakfast on Thursday.
He faces stiff opposition from groups who charge that he is abdicating government responsibilities and trying to breach the wall separating Church and State, and from some religious groups who worry about government conditions for funding.
"People shouldn't have to go to a church they may not believe in to get help from the government," said Reverend Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State.
"Once churches, temples, mosques and synagogues are being financed by the public, some of their freedom will be placed in jeopardy by the almost certain regulation to follow," he warned in a statement last week.
The president retorted, "Government should not fear funding programs that can change people's lives."
"A compassionate society is one which recognizes the great power of faith, not a particular religion, but the great power faith can play in the lives of everyday citizens," he declared last week.
Aly Abouzakouk, executive director of the American Muslim Council (AMC), commenting on Bush's proposal, said, "I think it is a very positive initiative."
"To let the faith-based organizations play the role in the social segment of our society and combating the social ills is something commendable and we consider that to be a very appropriate initiative," he added.
Abouzakouk found it of no concern that regulations may follow any such funding. "If you are doing any social work with the federal government you have to abide by the rules," adding that, "I don't think there is a problem with that. This is our tax money and whoever spends tax money has to be held accountable for it."
Since the initiative and federal funding are targeted towards religious based groups already involved in social work, Abouzakouk clarified issues surrounding whether or not a sufficient amount of Muslim-based organizations existed to receive the aid as "an opportunity to develop their infrastructure."
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