The pervasive violations of this country's long tradition of church/state separation under President Bush were unconstitutional then and remain so today. Alas, President Obama is expanding, not eliminating, government funding for "faith-based initiatives." This is a great disappointment, as was his invitation to the gay-bashing, fundamentalist preacher Rick Warren to pray at the secular ceremony that marked the inauguration of our 44th president. Any praying at this civic event in the life of our non-theistic Republic is inappropriate; the prayer by this particular god-talker was outrageous.
The faith-based funding is inappropriate because taxpayer dollars are being used to sponsor sectarian religious activities and beliefs.
Government funding of faith-based programs should eliminated. If religious organizations want to conduct social service programs, they are free to do so with their own money.
Also regrettable is the fact that religious organizations have access to the White House to lobby for faith-based human service initiatives.
Recently, according to the Center for Inquiry (CFI), a secular organization that supports church/state separation, a meeting took place between representatives of the CFI Office of Public Policy and other church-state separation advocates and senior staff at the White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships.
CFI's reps expressed their concerns and disappointment over the new president's failure to repeal five Bush administration executive orders and numerous agency regulations and rulings that apply to the faith-based office. Those executive orders, regulations, and rulings permit faith-based programs to engage in religious discrimination -- using your tax dollars.
Unfortunately, it seems that President Obama will not act to prevent harmful discrimination by religious organizations that benefit from your tax dollars. Also, his plan for this illegal office fails to prevent the use of public money for construction and renovation of buildings used for religious worship. It does not bar religious organizations from proselytizing in publicly-funded programs.
While President Obama has said repeatedly that he believes in the separation of church and state. Those of us who supported him so enthusiastically might want to work hard to urge him to keep his word.
To learn what you can do, write to CFI c/o srook@centerforinquiry.net or call (716) 636-4869 ext. 427. For more information about CFI (the source of much of this information), visit http://www.centerforinquiry.net/opp.
Be well. Protect the wall!
Dr. Ardell: You are my new hero. I just pulled out an old environmental textbook, since I have been writing a series of articles about sustainability. For some reason, a few years ago, I had that textbook with me and was listening to the radio in my car. You were on a radio station that day. I listened to what you said and took notes in my textbook, since it was all I had with me.
I am the Chief Editor of Tampa Bay Wellness Magazine and teach college part-time. I am truly on a mission involving wellness and sustainability, yet I admit I have so much to learn. It feels overwhelming. I feel that your website and blog are new keys to my understanding. I had written down your website in my textbook that day! Thank you so much. I am listening to all you say. Angela Eward-Mangione
Posted by: Angela Eward-Mangione | 04/25/2009 at 03:56 AM