February, 05 2009, 12:49pm EDT
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Drew Courtney or Josh Glasstetter,Phone: 202-467-4999,Email:,media@pfaw.org
Obama Should Stick to Constitutional Principles on Faith Based Programs
President Obama today announced that he will create a White House
Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, but did not use the same
opportunity to rescind the Bush-administration policy making it legal for
recipients of faith-based funding to discriminate in providing services.
News reports indicated that he would ask the Justice Department to review the
policy which allows those same organizations to discriminate in hiring.
People For the American Way President Kathryn Kolbert issued the
following statement:
WASHINGTON
President Obama today announced that he will create a White House
Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, but did not use the same
opportunity to rescind the Bush-administration policy making it legal for
recipients of faith-based funding to discriminate in providing services.
News reports indicated that he would ask the Justice Department to review the
policy which allows those same organizations to discriminate in hiring.
People For the American Way President Kathryn Kolbert issued the
following statement:
"During the campaign, President Obama made clear that
religious organizations that receive federal money should not
discriminate. We strongly support that principle, but it's
disappointing that today President Obama has missed an opportunity to put it
into practice immediately.
"It's not about left or right: it's about
upholding the Constitution. If churches accept federal funds, it's
deeply inappropriate for them to discriminate on the basis of religion in their
hiring. It's unconstitutional for federal money to support programs
that only benefit those who profess a particular faith.
"President Obama needs to make good on his campaign promise
that tax dollars aren't used to unconstitutionally discriminate on the
basis of religion. Too often, religious discrimination is used as a proxy
for discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, race, and gender.
People For is committed to ensuring justice and equality for all, and I look
forward to working with the Obama Administration to correct this
problem."
People For the American Way works to build a democratic society that implements the ideals of freedom, equality, opportunity and justice for all. We encourage civic participation, defend fundamental rights, and fight to dismantle systemic barriers to equitable opportunity. We fight against right-wing extremism and the injustice it fosters.
1 (800) 326-7329LATEST NEWS
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