February 7, 2008 | Read Time: 2 minutes
In his State of the Union address last week, President Bush asked Congress to pass legislation that would “permanently extend” steps that his administration has taken to allow religious charities to compete more easily for federal funds.
Mr. Bush said that, over his seven years in office, “Americans have volunteered in record numbers. Charitable donations are higher than ever. Faith-based groups are bringing hope to pockets of despair, with newfound support from the federal government. And to help guarantee equal treatment for faith-based organizations when they compete for federal funds, I ask you to permanently extend charitable choice.”
In January 2001, immediately after taking office, Mr. Bush signed executive orders that urged the federal government to encourage religious charities to play a big role in the delivery of social services. Mr. Bush said the move would help promote equal treatment for religious groups when they compete for federal funds.
The executive orders established an office for the program in the White House — the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives — and satellite offices in five major cabinet departments. Eleven Centers for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives in cabinet departments have been created to date.
In his speech, Mr. Bush asked Congress to pass a law that would reinforce administrative protections for religious groups.
Congress has considered legislation containing provisions promoted during the Bush administration, but no bill has ever emerged in final form.
“The initiative is changing the way government addresses human need by making grants programs and other opportunities more accessible to new faith-based and community partners,” said a statement released by the White House.
Critics have said that the “charitable choice” provisions blur or cross the line between church and state.
In another effort to help religious groups, Mr. Bush announced that he would hold what the White House said would be a “summit on inner-city children and faith-based schools” this spring in Washington.
