Bush Plan Raises Key Questions for Faith-Based Groups

To the Editor:

I was struck that your July 26 article, “A Right to Discriminate?” focuses on organizations that have mastered the art of faithfully receiving and administering federal funds. The larger questions at stake lie in the creation of guidelines for religious groups that have not received and administered federal or state funds.

The groups cited — Catholic Charities, Habitat for Humanity, the Salvation Army, and Baptist Homes — have strong track records of successfully receiving and administering public dollars in a manner consistent with both funding-contract provisions and their religious beliefs. They have accomplished this by developing organizational fire walls that prevent the commingling of funds and differentiate religious practices from business practices.

As the president’s faith-based initiative seeks to expand the network of religious organizations and congregations, it must bring new groups to the table. Although employment practices are important, larger questions must be addressed by those considering the invitation:

• Will the investment of time, energy, and dollars by a congregation in a faith-based initiative divert it from its primary mission?
• When government funding shrinks or disappears, will the people that faith-based groups turn away think the congregation was committed to helping or was only in it for the money?
• Is essential religious belief advanced when a congregation’s community services operate with financial and administrative standards that many could perceive as second-rate?

And these dance around a core question: Is it possible for people to maintain faithful integrity while honoring a contract with government?

As reported, the employment-practice debate suggests that organizations like the Salvation Army may be currently operating in bad faith by honoring its funding agreements with government. I would prefer to think of the Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, or Habitat for Humanity as models that others might follow for maintaining integrity in faith while advancing community service with public dollars.

The Rev. John S. Kidd
Executive Director
The Council of Churches of Greater Bridgeport
Bridgeport, Conn.