Kuros
Joined: 27 Apr 2004
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 Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 9:36 pm Post subject: Obama Proposes Expanding Faith-Based Program |
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Obama Proposes Expanding Faith-Based Program
| Quote: |
ZANESVILLE, Ohio, July 1 -- Sen. Barack Obama, seeking to reach out to religious voters, proposed strengthening the White House program assisting faith-based social service organization Tuesday, while insisting that those groups not discriminate against aid recipients or aid workers.
Obama's proposal for a $500 million-a-year Council for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships would also create 1 million slots for summer jobs and education programs.
"I'm not saying that faith-based groups are an alternative to government or secular nonprofits, and I'm not saying that they're somehow better at lifting people up," the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee said after touring the Eastside Community Ministry. "What I'm saying is that we all have to work together -- Christian and Jew, Hindu and Muslim, believer and nonbeliever alike -- to meet the challenges of the 21st century." |
Will this money only go to individuals approved as worthy by the religious organizations?
| Quote: |
Obama aides, however, say the current program has not worked. Funding has not reached the levels Bush promised, and the program, Obama contends, has been too bureaucratic, including onerous training for groups who wish to apply.
Those aides said an Obama administration would get tough on groups that discriminate in hiring practices and doling out assistance. The groups would have to abide by federal hiring laws that reject discrimination based on race, sex and religion. Obama said he supports federal legislation that would extend those protections to gay people as well, a flash point with some religious organizations that say hiring or assisting gays would run counter to their beliefs.
Under Obama's proposal, groups could use federal funds only to assist people in need, not people from a certain background or religion. Nor could federal funds be used to proselytize or spread religious beliefs. |
I wonder how the atheist bloc feels about this one. |
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