2. VOICE of AMERICAVOICE of AMERICA
According to an August 2008 Pew Survey, 67According to an August 2008 Pew Survey, 67
percent of Americans favor allowing churchespercent of Americans favor allowing churches
and other houses of worship to apply, along withand other houses of worship to apply, along with
other organizations, for government funding toother organizations, for government funding to
provide social services. provide social services.
But nearly three-quarters of Americans,But nearly three-quarters of Americans, 7373
percent,percent, say religious organizations receivingsay religious organizations receiving
funds should not be allowed to hirefunds should not be allowed to hire onlyonly peoplepeople
who share their religious beliefs. who share their religious beliefs.
3. There are three critical periodsThere are three critical periods
in the federal government'sin the federal government's
changing policy on this issue:changing policy on this issue:
Between 1972 and 1996,Between 1972 and 1996,
Between 1996 and 2001,Between 1996 and 2001,
And between 2001 and today.And between 2001 and today.
4. Reagan and Good SamaritanReagan and Good Samaritan
The Date: April 14, 1982The Date: April 14, 1982
The Time: LunchThe Time: Lunch
The Attire: Business CasualThe Attire: Business Casual
The Place: The State Dining Room,The Place: The State Dining Room,
S.S. WhitehouseS.S. Whitehouse
At a luncheon speech in the State Dining Room, PresidentAt a luncheon speech in the State Dining Room, President ReaganReagan toldtold
that group of more than 100 religious leadersthat group of more than 100 religious leaders ““that churches andthat churches and
voluntary groups should accept more responsibility for thevoluntary groups should accept more responsibility for the
needy rather than leaving it to the bureaucracyneedy rather than leaving it to the bureaucracy .”.”
PresidentPresident ReaganReagan had created a ‘public devil’ - “the governmenthad created a ‘public devil’ - “the government
bureaucrat”- and a ‘public model’ - the Good Samaritan who in the long termbureaucrat”- and a ‘public model’ - the Good Samaritan who in the long term
has become the symbol thathas become the symbol that faithfaith basedbased services are really better thanservices are really better than
nonnon faithfaith--basedbased services. services.
5. Bush SeniorBush Senior
The first President George Bush's now famousThe first President George Bush's now famous
"Thousand Points of Light""Thousand Points of Light"
(A Peggy Noonan catch phrase) campaign speech(A Peggy Noonan catch phrase) campaign speech
simultaneously called for decreased governmentalsimultaneously called for decreased governmental
spending and increased local voluntary support for socialspending and increased local voluntary support for social
welfare efforts.welfare efforts.
Two year later, a March 8th, 1990 request for newTwo year later, a March 8th, 1990 request for new
program proposals clearly laced theprogram proposals clearly laced the ReaganReagan//BushBush
view directly into policy:view directly into policy:
""Human service needs are best defined throughHuman service needs are best defined through
institutions and organizations at the localinstitutions and organizations at the local
level."level."
6. Laying the Groundwork forLaying the Groundwork for
Charitable ChoiceCharitable Choice
President Clinton approved Charitable Choice in the 1996 federal welfarePresident Clinton approved Charitable Choice in the 1996 federal welfare
reform law, which stated:reform law, which stated:
"No [public] funds provided directly to institutions or"No [public] funds provided directly to institutions or
organizations to provide services or administer programs ...organizations to provide services or administer programs ...
shall be [used] for sectarian worship, instruction, orshall be [used] for sectarian worship, instruction, or
proselytization."proselytization."
At the same time, however, the provision expanded religious nonprofits'At the same time, however, the provision expanded religious nonprofits'
rights to use religious properties for tax-supported social service deliveryrights to use religious properties for tax-supported social service delivery
purposes without having to remove religious icons, change internalpurposes without having to remove religious icons, change internal
governance or otherwise secularize their organizations.governance or otherwise secularize their organizations.
7. 96’-01: Charitable Choice.96’-01: Charitable Choice.
A DefinitionA Definition
Charitable choiceCharitable choice refers to direct governmentrefers to direct government
funding of religious organizations to providefunding of religious organizations to provide
social services. Created in 1996, charitablesocial services. Created in 1996, charitable
choice allows government officials to purchasechoice allows government officials to purchase
services from religious providers usingservices from religious providers using
Temporary Assistance for Needy FamiliesTemporary Assistance for Needy Families
(TANF), Welfare-to-Work, and(TANF), Welfare-to-Work, and
Community Services Block GrantCommunity Services Block Grant (CSBG) funds.(CSBG) funds.
8. Perhaps the most controversial aspectPerhaps the most controversial aspect
of “Charitable Choice” is that it allowsof “Charitable Choice” is that it allows
employment discrimination based onemployment discrimination based on
religion with respect to government-religion with respect to government-
funded positions.funded positions.
9. Mitchell v. Helms: Paving W’sMitchell v. Helms: Paving W’s
Yellow Brick RoadYellow Brick Road
In 2000, inIn 2000, in Mitchell v. HelmsMitchell v. Helms, the, the
Supreme Court decision to allow theSupreme Court decision to allow the
government to fund all religious groupsgovernment to fund all religious groups
directly as long as there was somedirectly as long as there was some
assurance that the groups would use theassurance that the groups would use the
money only for secular programs.money only for secular programs.
The Court decided that aid to religiousThe Court decided that aid to religious
groups can be made so long as itgroups can be made so long as it
furthers some legitimate secular purposefurthers some legitimate secular purpose
and is granted in the same manner toand is granted in the same manner to
non-religious groupsnon-religious groups
10. HEY YOU, JOURNALIST!HEY YOU, JOURNALIST!
Ernest MayErnest May
What would have been the reaction 30 years ago, ifWhat would have been the reaction 30 years ago, if
someone said that in the year 2001, the president of thesomeone said that in the year 2001, the president of the
United States would announce the establishment of aUnited States would announce the establishment of a
White House Office ofWhite House Office of FaithFaith BasedBased and Communityand Community
InitiativesInitiatives? Could you put it in context?? Could you put it in context?
11. W: Executive Order, Please!W: Executive Order, Please!
Bush expanded on the Charitable Choice provisions byBush expanded on the Charitable Choice provisions by
creating the “White House Office of Faith-Based andcreating the “White House Office of Faith-Based and
Community Initiatives,” which sought to remove allCommunity Initiatives,” which sought to remove all
obstacles that congressional statutes and agencyobstacles that congressional statutes and agency
regulations had placed on religious groups seekingregulations had placed on religious groups seeking
federal grants.federal grants.
Bush said this:Bush said this:
“ Congress wouldn’t act, so I signed“ Congress wouldn’t act, so I signed
an executive order. That means Ian executive order. That means I
did it on my own.”did it on my own.”
12. ““Every major paper and magazineEvery major paper and magazine
ran huge articles about theran huge articles about the
initiative…Instead of being shieldedinitiative…Instead of being shielded
from the media and political glarefrom the media and political glare
inside the transition, the faith-inside the transition, the faith-
based announcement becamebased announcement became
everyone’s focus. More than seveneveryone’s focus. More than seven
hundred articles appeared in thehundred articles appeared in the
first week of the initiative. By andfirst week of the initiative. By and
large the coverage was negative.”large the coverage was negative.”
(Kuo)(Kuo)
13. Silence is Consent Under the LawSilence is Consent Under the Law
On December 12, 2002On December 12, 2002 The Anti-Defamation LeagueThe Anti-Defamation League’s Abraham H.’s Abraham H.
Foxman, ADL National Director, issued the following statement:Foxman, ADL National Director, issued the following statement:
“…“…We are very concerned that the Executive Order he signedWe are very concerned that the Executive Order he signed
will allow taxpayer dollars to be used to fund positions thatwill allow taxpayer dollars to be used to fund positions that
discriminate on the basis of religion.discriminate on the basis of religion.
Religious institutions have always been permitted to takeReligious institutions have always been permitted to take
religion into account when hiring;religion into account when hiring;
the President's order represents a serious departure that wouldthe President's order represents a serious departure that would
allow religion to be taken into account when hiring for aallow religion to be taken into account when hiring for a
government-funded position.”government-funded position.”
14. Proof is in the Puddin’Proof is in the Puddin’
Research, where none actually existed, was suddenly demonstratingResearch, where none actually existed, was suddenly demonstrating
that faith-based organizations are better than governmentthat faith-based organizations are better than government
programs.programs.
Case in Point: On February 04, 2001, George Will’s syndicated column appeared in theCase in Point: On February 04, 2001, George Will’s syndicated column appeared in the
Greensboro News and Record:Greensboro News and Record:
““Because of social scientists like DiIulio, and because ofBecause of social scientists like DiIulio, and because of
streetwise program administrators like, well, DiIulio, it is not juststreetwise program administrators like, well, DiIulio, it is not just
intuitively obvious, it isintuitively obvious, it is demonstrabledemonstrable that there is a powerfulthat there is a powerful
correlation between sustained contact with religious people andcorrelation between sustained contact with religious people and
institutions and reduced crime and substance abuse.”institutions and reduced crime and substance abuse.”
The next day syndicated columnist Cal Thomas had something very similar to say:The next day syndicated columnist Cal Thomas had something very similar to say:
““It isIt is beyond debatebeyond debate that programs with a life changing spiritual elementthat programs with a life changing spiritual element produceproduce
the resultsthe results government seeks but has yet to find, in "secular'' programs. government seeks but has yet to find, in "secular'' programs.
15. DiIulio in the House!DiIulio in the House!
John J.John J. DiIulioDiIulio Jr., a domestic affairs expert and professor at the University of Pennsylvania,Jr., a domestic affairs expert and professor at the University of Pennsylvania,
was appointed by President Bush to lead the White House Office of Faith-Based andwas appointed by President Bush to lead the White House Office of Faith-Based and
Community Initiatives in the second week of the new administration.Community Initiatives in the second week of the new administration.
HeHe quitquit in August 2001 amid struggles with Congress and Christian conservatives over thein August 2001 amid struggles with Congress and Christian conservatives over the
direction of the president's plan to give more federal money to religious charities.direction of the president's plan to give more federal money to religious charities.
'''There is no precedent in any modern White House for what is going on in this'There is no precedent in any modern White House for what is going on in this
one: a complete lack of a policy apparatus. What you've got is everything, and Ione: a complete lack of a policy apparatus. What you've got is everything, and I
mean everything, being run by the political arm. It's the reign of the Mayberrymean everything, being run by the political arm. It's the reign of the Mayberry
Machiavellis.'‘Machiavellis.'‘ (NYT, Dec. 2, 2002 “Ex-Aide Insists White House Puts Politics Ahead of(NYT, Dec. 2, 2002 “Ex-Aide Insists White House Puts Politics Ahead of
Policy”)Policy”)
16. KUO in (and out) of the House!KUO in (and out) of the House!
In speaking of the beginning derailment of Bush’sIn speaking of the beginning derailment of Bush’s
policies from bipartisan and nonpolitical, Kuo felt the seapolicies from bipartisan and nonpolitical, Kuo felt the sea
change but reporters missed it:change but reporters missed it:
““The White House was intent on driving the news. ItThe White House was intent on driving the news. It
wanted to dictate what everyone was talking about inwanted to dictate what everyone was talking about in
what terms…The White House communications shopwhat terms…The White House communications shop
would email awould email a synopsissynopsis of the event to media outlets,of the event to media outlets,
along with a small fact sheet. They also sentalong with a small fact sheet. They also sent talkingtalking
pointspoints to friendly pundits, policy makers, lobbyists,to friendly pundits, policy makers, lobbyists,
congressmen and their staffers, so that they would becongressmen and their staffers, so that they would be
saying the right things in the right way if they weresaying the right things in the right way if they were
interviewed. (P. 156)interviewed. (P. 156)
17. HEY YOU, JOURNALIST!HEY YOU, JOURNALIST!
Talking Points? Fact Sheet? Pshaw! How could you have done aTalking Points? Fact Sheet? Pshaw! How could you have done a
better job of “getting in the room;” of shunning thine eyes awaybetter job of “getting in the room;” of shunning thine eyes away
from PRESS RELEASES???from PRESS RELEASES???
NeustadtNeustadt
18. ““Unless a news story is a major one, theUnless a news story is a major one, the
media churns through it quickly, keeping themedia churns through it quickly, keeping the
public entertained with ever newer stories…public entertained with ever newer stories…
The White House understood this. The White House understood this.
Everything it did catered to this…. [TheEverything it did catered to this…. [The
media] were fed a constant barrage of littlemedia] were fed a constant barrage of little
announcements with big ones sprinkled in.”announcements with big ones sprinkled in.”
(p. 227)(p. 227)
Well put, KUO. Well put, KUO.
19. ObamaObama
Obama worked for a faith-basedObama worked for a faith-based
community organization in Chicago.community organization in Chicago.
Obama worked as a professor ofObama worked as a professor of
constitutional lawconstitutional law
Now, as president, he also signed anNow, as president, he also signed an
Executive Order to open a new FaithExecutive Order to open a new Faith
Based Initiative OfficeBased Initiative Office
20. ““ Obama proposes to elevate the programObama proposes to elevate the program
to a "moral center" of his administration,to a "moral center" of his administration,
by renaming it the “Office of Communityby renaming it the “Office of Community
and Faith-Based Partnerships,” andand Faith-Based Partnerships,” and
changing training from occasional hugechanging training from occasional huge
conferences to empowering largerconferences to empowering larger
religious charities to mentor smaller onesreligious charities to mentor smaller ones
in their communities.” (Sun Timesin their communities.” (Sun Times
07/01/08)07/01/08)
21. 4 Stated Goals4 Stated Goals
* Making community groups an integral part of the* Making community groups an integral part of the
nation's economic recovery and making poverty "anation's economic recovery and making poverty "a
burden fewer have to bear when recovery is complete."burden fewer have to bear when recovery is complete."
* Offering advice on supporting women and children,* Offering advice on supporting women and children,
addressing teenage pregnancy and reducing the needaddressing teenage pregnancy and reducing the need
for abortion.for abortion.
* Supporting fathers "who stand by their families,"* Supporting fathers "who stand by their families,"
helping young men find well-paying jobs and promotinghelping young men find well-paying jobs and promoting
"responsible fatherhood.""responsible fatherhood."
* Working with the National Security Council to foster* Working with the National Security Council to foster
interfaith dialogue with leaders and scholars around theinterfaith dialogue with leaders and scholars around the
world. (LAT, Mark Silvaworld. (LAT, Mark Silva
February 06, 2009)February 06, 2009)
22. Guest List: 25 MembersGuest List: 25 Members
Pastor Joel C. Hunter----------Pastor Joel C. Hunter---------- Senior Pastor, Northland, a ChurchSenior Pastor, Northland, a Church
DistributedDistributed
Dr. Arturo Chavez----------Dr. Arturo Chavez---------- Mexican American Cultural CenterMexican American Cultural Center
Rev. Jim Wallis-------------------Rev. Jim Wallis------------------- SojournersSojourners
Bishop Vashti M. McKenzie----------------Bishop Vashti M. McKenzie---------------- African Methodist EpiscopalAfrican Methodist Episcopal
ChurchChurch
Diane Baillargeon------------Seedco, a secular national operating intermeriaryDiane Baillargeon------------Seedco, a secular national operating intermeriary
Richard Stearns--------------World VisionRichard Stearns--------------World Vision
Information on these members’ backgrounds and likelyInformation on these members’ backgrounds and likely
positions on the key issues was absent from mostpositions on the key issues was absent from most
coveragecoverage
23. Placement, People!Placement, People!
Judith N. Vredenburgh ---------Judith N. Vredenburgh --------- Big Brothers / Big Sisters of AmericaBig Brothers / Big Sisters of America
Rabbi David N. SapersteinRabbi David N. Saperstein ------------Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism------------Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism
Dr. Frank S. Page-Dr. Frank S. Page- ------------- Southern Baptist Convention Taylors------------- Southern Baptist Convention Taylors
Father Larry J. SnyderFather Larry J. Snyder ------------Catholic Charities USA------------Catholic Charities USA
Rev. Otis Moss, JrRev. Otis Moss, Jr .------------- Olivet Institutional Baptist Church.------------- Olivet Institutional Baptist Church
Eboo S. Patel-Eboo S. Patel- ----------------Interfaith Youth Corp----------------Interfaith Youth Corp
Fred Davie------------Fred Davie------------ Public / Private Ventures, a secular non-profitPublic / Private Ventures, a secular non-profit
intermediaryintermediary
Dr. William J. Shaw---------------Dr. William J. Shaw--------------- National Baptist ConventionNational Baptist Convention
Melissa Rogers--------------Melissa Rogers-------------- Wake Forest School of Divinity Center for ReligionWake Forest School of Divinity Center for Religion
and Public Affairsand Public Affairs
24. DuBoisDuBois
Executive director of the Office of Faith-Based and NeighborhoodExecutive director of the Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood
Partnerships, Joshua DuBois.Partnerships, Joshua DuBois.
Age: 26 years oldAge: 26 years old
Alma Mater: Boston University graduateAlma Mater: Boston University graduate
Previous Profession: Pentecostal ministerPrevious Profession: Pentecostal minister
TimeTime magazine pointed out that DuBois “…has also been behind somemagazine pointed out that DuBois “…has also been behind some
moves that have raised eyebrows, including Obama’s participation in lastmoves that have raised eyebrows, including Obama’s participation in last
summer’s Presidential Forum at Rick Warren’s Saddleback Church and,summer’s Presidential Forum at Rick Warren’s Saddleback Church and,
more recently, the selection of the Evangelical author and pastor tomore recently, the selection of the Evangelical author and pastor to
deliver the invocation at the inauguration.”deliver the invocation at the inauguration.”
PBS: DuBoisPBS: DuBois
25. ““While some viewed the Bush administration'sWhile some viewed the Bush administration's
efforts mostly as a one-way directive on how toefforts mostly as a one-way directive on how to
expand the reach of faith-based groups,expand the reach of faith-based groups,
Obama's unpaid advisers report more of a two-Obama's unpaid advisers report more of a two-
way dialogue. And the discussion centers on away dialogue. And the discussion centers on a
broader array of issues that allows for morebroader array of issues that allows for more
input from beyond the Beltway.”input from beyond the Beltway.” April 6, 2009April 6, 2009 Obama's faith-basedObama's faith-based
council still finding its footingcouncil still finding its footing
by Adelle M. Banks Religion News Serviceby Adelle M. Banks Religion News Service
26. 100 Days100 Days
Americans United for Separation ofAmericans United for Separation of
Church and State is dismayed by howChurch and State is dismayed by how
Obama's faith-based office has operatedObama's faith-based office has operated
so far. "Bush's office completelyso far. "Bush's office completely
disregarded the separation of church anddisregarded the separation of church and
state," says Executive Director Barrystate," says Executive Director Barry
Lynn, "and nobody sees any change fromLynn, "and nobody sees any change from
that yet."that yet."
27. HEY YOU, JOURNALIST!HEY YOU, JOURNALIST!
How Obama’s Policy is Different from W’s. IsHow Obama’s Policy is Different from W’s. Is
itit????
DruckerDrucker
28. TV CoverageTV Coverage
CNNCNN
FOX: ACT OF TRUE FAITH???FOX: ACT OF TRUE FAITH???
MSNBCMSNBC
MSNBC: "Brilliant Politics"MSNBC: "Brilliant Politics"
O'Reilly: Jesse JacksonO'Reilly: Jesse Jackson
