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Faith-based charities and government funding
Now I have been told by "mead1" that the users that regularly go to FFR are an intelligent group, and that their intellect exceeds mine immensely. So I am here to ask for some help for my Global Issues class. I raised my hand to take part in a debate thinking that my friend Josh/ mead1 would be on my team, only to find out that he had backed down and that I was to take the PRO side which "supports the faith-based charities on receiving the funding" on this debate topic:
Should faith-based charities receive government funding? Someone please help me. Pretty please? Here's the wiki: From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search The White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives (OFBCI) is a department under the Office of the President of the United States that was established by President George W. Bush through Executive Order on January 29, 2001, and which represents one of the key domestic policies of Bush's campaign promise of "compassionate conservatism." The initiative seeks to strengthen faith-based and community organizations and expand their capacity to provide federally funded social services, with the idea being that these groups are well-situated to meet the needs of local individuals. The Office was initially shepherded by Don Willett, an aide from Bush's administration as Governor of Texas. Willett is now a Justice on the Supreme Court of Texas. Jay Hein, the current director of the OFBCI, is the founding president of the Sagamore Institute for Policy Research. He also serves as Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation for American Renewal,[1] whose stated goal is: "We believe America can be renewed only by returning to the nation's founding Biblical principles: by building a strong relationship with God, by enthusiastically embracing liberty, and by promoting compassionate entrepreneurship."[2] For fiscal year 2005, more than $2.1 billion in competitive social service grants were awarded to faith-based organizations. Between fiscal years 2003 and 2005, the total dollar amount of all grants awarded to FBOs increased by 21 percent (GAO 2006:43[3]). The majority of these grants were distributed through state agencies to local organizations in the form of formula grants (GAO 2006:17[3]). Contents [hide] * 1 Safeguards on faith-based organizations * 2 Controversy * 3 References * 4 See also * 5 Books * 6 External links [edit] Safeguards on faith-based organizations Faith-based organizations are eligible to participate in federally administered social service programs to the same degree as any other group, although certain restrictions on FBOs that accept government funding have been created by the White House to protect the concept of separation of church and state * They may not use direct government funds to support inherently religious activities such as prayer, worship, religious instruction, or proselytization. * Any inherently religious activities that the organizations may offer must be offered separately in time or location from services that receive federal assistance. * FBOs cannot discriminate on the basis of religion when providing services (GAO 2006:13[3]). [edit] Controversy The separation of church and state may be increasingly difficult to protect, since few federal agencies are monitoring faith-based organizations for compliance with the safeguards, according to a June 2006 report from the Government Accountability Office. Four of the major federal agencies refuse to include references to the safeguards in their monitoring tools, and have stated that FBOs should not be singled out for greater oversight on the basis of their religious affiliations (GAO 2006:29,55[3]). Former director Jim Towey admitted in 2004 that "no direct federal grants from his program had gone to a non-Christian religious group." [4] Some civil libertarians, theists and non theists have denounced the Faith-Based and Community Initiatives as a violation of the separation of church and state, a concept protected in the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. Citing President Bush being a devout Christian, some opponents have labeled it a de facto Department of Faith. |
Re: Faith-based charities and government funding
U.S. Constitution: First Amendment
First Amendment - Religion and Expression Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. I believe in the separation of Organized Religion and/from State. We're here to discuss.. not do your homework. Separations are, or should be, absolute. |
Re: Faith-based charities and government funding
Quote:
While it is true that the giving of funds may in fact infringe slightly on the separation of church and state, the constitution is not infallible. There have been twenty-six amendments to it, and hundreds more proposed by congress members. |
Re: Faith-based charities and government funding
Things that are written in official documents are to be.. you know.. followed. It does infringe.. but that doesn't stop it from occuring.
As I said, if something is states to be separated, the separation must be absolute. |
Re: Faith-based charities and government funding
There's AIDs in the pool. POOL'S CLOSED.
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