W's Faith-Based Tomfoolery

[reprehensor]

Don Lattin, Chronicle Religion Writer

Bush's faith-based changes scrutinized: He has made changes without Congress'OK

President Bush has gone "under the radar" and around the Congress to spread his faith-based initiative throughout the federal government, according to a new study released Monday.

The study, compiled by researchers at the Rockefeller Institute of Government in Albany, N.Y., is one of the first comprehensive looks at the Bush administration's efforts to redirect government grants to churches and other faith-based groups.

"Religious organizations are now involved in government-encouraged activities ranging from building strip malls for economic improvement to promoting child car seats,'' the study states.

Branches in 10 agencies

Taken together, the report finds that the Bush programs "mark a major shift in the constitutional separation of church and state."

more@link

[MichiganVote]

1. What other branch of government has had a budget increase of 41%?

This is an outrage. There are plenty of programs that are not funded by or through church groups that would never be granted a 41% increase in their funding. This is just another example of the religious right ramming their dogma into the lives of those they choose to serve while other reputable program intiatives starve.

Oversight? None.

[amber dog democrat]

2. This is an attack on the church/state separation

and probably unconstitutional. I honestly believe the Chimp's handlers want to lay the foundation for a theocratic authoritarian society.

If this ever gets to the Supreme Court, I am hoping someone better can replace Scalia and Thomas.

[mercury19]

3. Unconstitutional? Maybe, maybe not

For it to be unconstitutional, it would have to establish an official religion in the USA. If you want to truly understand a theocracy, try talking with some people who have escaped Middle Eastern countries. For all the ranting that goes on, the original intent was only to forbid an "official" religion, not take faith out of the public life.