By Jennifer Nagorka, KERA 90.1 commentator
Dallas, TX – President Bush took office determined to make the federal government more supportive of religious groups that tackle social problems. He wanted these organizations to be able to compete for federal funding, just as secular nonprofits do.
In December, he signed an executive order that required "equal treatment" of religious groups. In other words, federal officials couldn't deny funding to a program simply because it was faith-based.
"We should not focus on the religion you practice," President Bush said in a speech, "we should focus on the results you deliver."
That's common sense. All funders, whether they're foundations or donors or government departments, want to see a program's outcomes. Evaluating results allows accountability.
And it would be foolish to ignore religious groups when combating social ills. Churches are in many places, such as decaying urban neighborhoods, which lack other social resources. It makes sense to work with existing groups rather than trying to create something new.
But the president has a way of describing his faith-based initiative that both troubles and annoys me. First, there's a hint of victimization, of self-pity, in his charge that religious groups are discriminated against - as if they can't do much because the government won't give them money.
Religious groups, like other nonprofits, can do a great deal without direct government aid. They just have to commit their own resources. The Stewpot, a Dallas human service agency and soup kitchen, helps thousands of people annually. It is a ministry of First Presbyterian Church of Dallas and does not seek government aid. Many wealthy churches sit in the suburbs, far removed from the struggles of the inner city, but they have resources to help.
Another flaw in the faith-based initiative is that it suggests only religious charities are hampered by bureaucratic ineptitude and intransigence. Many nonprofits can come up with horror stories about dealing with a government agency, whether it's the local health department or a state housing commission. Bureaucracy drives everybody crazy.
Last, it is just to use tax dollars to support groups that discriminate in hiring. In President Bush's initiative, faith-based groups cannot discriminate against clients, but they can discriminate in employment.
I feel a little hypocritical saying all this because a project I treasure has benefited from the faith-based initiative. An inner-city Dallas church is receiving federal money to renovate a building that will shelter an Early Head Start program. A secular nonprofit will lease the building for 10 years and operate the center. Before the initiative, the feds might not have given funds to renovate a church-owned building.
Is it use government funds to renovate a church building? In this case, yes. The neighborhood desperately needs high-quality childcare. The nonprofit does not discriminate in hiring. There will be no religious component to the childcare. In fact, there isn't much overt religion in this project. The work itself - helping needy kids get a good start in life - is an expression of faith for church leaders.
You don't have to have cross or a crescent hanging on the wall to serve those in need, and having that cross or crescent doesn't guarantee a program's success. President Bush needs to remember those truths as he rallies support for his faith-based plan.
Jennifer Nagorka is a writer from Dallas. If you have opinions about this commentary, call (214) 740-9338.