Bush's Faith-Based Initiative

Ansohn of contextual criticism has a long post that provides an overview of Bush's faith-based initiative after four years. It's not a pretty picture. Here's the introduction:

“Faith-based initiative” is one of those Orwellian terms that tries to make something sound better than or less like what it really is. A more descriptive term would be “Tax Money Given to Religious Institutions.” That tells it like it is. Bush’s “faith-based initiative” is the gifting of religious institutions with federal money.

The idea is not new. Bill Moyer has reported on PBS that “The 1996 Welfare Reform Act, signed by President Clinton, enabled some houses of worship to receive tax dollars for delivery of social services, due to an amendment sponsored by then Senator...John Ashcroft. Prior to that year, government funds could go to religious groups for social services, but the institutions were required to have separate, secular nonprofit entities to administer the programs.”

As reported by the Associated Press, “Bush sidestepped Congress by issuing executive orders to create the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives and similar centers in 10 federal agencies during his first term.”

Ansohn details some of the abuses of the faith-based initiative. The full post is worth reading.