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JANUARY 30, 2001

Hoping to tap the power of religion in solving social problems, President George W. Bush on Monday launched a major policy initiative aimed at opening up federal funds to faith-based organizations.

Joined by a number of religious and charity groups, Bush outlined his ideas in advance of submitting them to Congress today. But while Bush expressed pride in the diversity of those who accompanied him, no organizations with direct ties to Indian Country were among the Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, and other religious and non-profit groups present at yesterday's announcement.

Still, Indian organizations who provide the types of community outreach programs Bush has praised might be among the many who might benefit from the program. He signed an executive order yesterday which creates a White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives and another which directs five government agencies to help expand funding opportunities for faith-based and other organizations.

"Government has important responsibilities for public health or public order and civil rights, and government will never be replaced by charities and community groups," said Bush. "Yet, when we see social needs in America, my administration will look first at faith-based programs and community groups, which have proven their power to save and change lives."

While many religious and faith-based groups provide community programs such as day care, drug treatment centers, food banks, and homeless shelters, they are required to set up separate organizations in order to ensure compliance with laws prohibiting discrimination. Such rules haven't prevented religious groups from obtaining federal funds, however, and a report released yesterday by the Independent Sector, whose president and CEO Sara Melendez joined Bush at the announcement, estimated that about $20 million in government funds went to congregations in 1996 alone.

But in a move critics say blurs the line between church and state, Bush is now directing the Departments of Justice, Labor, Education, Health and Human Services, and Housing and Urban Development, to "eliminate" obstacles facing religious organizations who want to compete for federal funds. In language paralleling the tribal consultation orders President Clinton signed in 1998 and 2000, the order directs the agencies to cooperate and coordinate with religious groups to "to the extent permitted by law."

"We will not fund the religious activities of any group, but when people of faith provide social services, we will not discriminate against them," Bush also said yesterday in response to First Amendment issues raised by civil rights advocates who worry a lawsuit in Bush's own state over a jobs program funded by a Christian organization is a predictor of future problems.

For now, the agencies will establish within their departments a center that will coordinate with the White House Office, to be headed by John J. DiIulio Jr., a University of Pennsylvania professor. The agencies have been directed to identify and remove any regulations, rules, and policies which may have previously limited funding to religious groups. Each has 180 days to present to White House Office their findings and is required to provide a status report every year.

Get the Executive Orders:
Executive Order Creating White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives (Politics 1/30)
Executive Order Directing Agencies to Coordinate with White House Office (Politics 1/30)

Related Stories:
Faith takes center stage with Bush (Politics 1/29)
Bush unveils education plan (Indian U. 1/24)