Bush’s Efforts to Help Religious Charities Stalled, Critics Say

President Bush has shown signs that the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives is not a high priority, says The Washington Post.

Jay F. Hein, who begins work this week, is the third person in six years to head President Bush’s effort to help religious groups win government funds to provide social services.

The rapid turnover, plus the fact that the position was vacant for two months before Mr. Hein took over, are indications that Mr. Bush does not take the office as seriously as he did when he created it, say some critics of the administration.

The critics also note that Mr. Hein was appointed to be deputy assistant to the president, one rung lower than that of his predecessors.

White House officials cautioned against reading anything into Mr. Hein’s title or appointment, noting his predecessor also started as deputy assistant and was later promoted.

Read The Chronicle of Philanthropy’ s coverage of Mr. Hein’s appointment. (A paid subscription is required to view this article.)