President Bush Asks for New Law to Help Religious Charities

In his State of the Union address, President Bush asked Congress to pass legislation that he said would end discrimination by the federal government against religious charities that seek and obtain federal money.

“Religious charities of every creed are doing some of the most vital work in our country, mentoring children, feeding the hungry, taking the hand of the lonely,” said Mr. Bush. “Yet government has often denied social-service grants and contracts to these groups, just because they have a cross or a star of David or a crescent on the wall.”

Mr. Bush and the White House did not offer details on his proposal.

Thirteen months ago, the president signed an executive order that required the federal government to loosen restraints on religious charities (The Chronicle, January 9, 2003).

“Tonight I ask you,” Mr. Bush said, “to codify this into law, so people of faith can know that the law will never discriminate against them again.”

Executive Order

According to the White House, the president’s executive order has allowed religious charities to compete for about $10-billion in federal grants.

The order said that organizations that get federal money may retain their religious identity: display icons, such as crucifixes or stars of David, in their facilities; have religious names in their titles and religious missions in their charter documents; and select board members based on their faith.

Under the president’s order, nonprofit groups that receive some kinds of federal money could take their faith “into account” when making employment decisions. Civil-rights groups were critical of Mr. Bush’s action, saying that the proclamation would essentially allow religious groups to bar homosexuals and others from employment.

Congress has considered legislation containing such provisions during the Bush administration, but no bill has ever emerged in final form.

In his State of the Union speech, Mr. Bush also proposed a new four-year, $300-million Prisoner Re-Entry Initiative to help recently released inmates obtain housing, job training, and “mentoring” from religious and community groups.

“America is the land of [the] second chance,” the president said, “and when the gates of the prison open, the path ahead should lead to a better life.”

For more information on the president’s effort, visit the White House Web site at http://www.whitehouse.gov/government/fbci.