It's getting harder and harder to give the new president the benefit of the doubt. We are told that we should cut him some slack and give him a chance. However, we've seen him change the federal policy to use our tax money to pay for overseas abortions, we see more money just thrown at programs of little use to most of us and now... and now we are told that the faith based organizations are doing wonderful work, BUT now the new administration is looking at telling these organizations that they can continue to contribute their time and efforts, but they need to discontinue the very aspects of their work that makes them unique and effective.
On one hand, this idea of forcing any organization taking federal funds to hire anyone regardless of compatibility with the charities beliefs and values could be looked at as just another waste of government (read taxpayer) money. The thing they don't comprehend about this rule is that it is these distinctions and people that define many faith based ministries and that make them effective. It shows a lack of understanding that it is the faith element that keeps prisoners from returning to prison and lets welfare mothers pull their families and their lives together.
The financial cost of this kind of decision to make faith based programs as ineffective as regular government programs means more money is just swirling down the drain with the rest of the "stimulus" money. On the other hand the human cost is even greater. The human tragedy of a prisoner returning to jail, not to mention the trail of injury and heartache he leaves in his wake on the way back is something we just cannot tolerate if it is at all avoidable.
In view of organizations like Prison Fellowship and Teen Challenge, one must wonder what the objective of this administration is... could it be the welfare of society - or the reduction of an influence deemed to be dangerous to their desired messianic worship? An attack on religious (read Christian) values would seem to be simply a continuation policies we have seen from our government for many years... an attack that accelerates under Democratic rule.
Half the answer is for faith based groups to refuse federal funds. This helps remove some of the employment hold of Washington. It does not give access however. Not being suitably secular, we probably would see precious few such organizations remaining on the job. Who knows... somebody might get saved and turn from their wicked ways!
This is just one of the challenges we face over the next several years. These are the kind of challenges that don't go away by themselves and don't fall to half hearted efforts. Now is the time to speak up, raise a ruckus, spread the word and pray!
On one hand, this idea of forcing any organization taking federal funds to hire anyone regardless of compatibility with the charities beliefs and values could be looked at as just another waste of government (read taxpayer) money. The thing they don't comprehend about this rule is that it is these distinctions and people that define many faith based ministries and that make them effective. It shows a lack of understanding that it is the faith element that keeps prisoners from returning to prison and lets welfare mothers pull their families and their lives together.
The financial cost of this kind of decision to make faith based programs as ineffective as regular government programs means more money is just swirling down the drain with the rest of the "stimulus" money. On the other hand the human cost is even greater. The human tragedy of a prisoner returning to jail, not to mention the trail of injury and heartache he leaves in his wake on the way back is something we just cannot tolerate if it is at all avoidable.
In view of organizations like Prison Fellowship and Teen Challenge, one must wonder what the objective of this administration is... could it be the welfare of society - or the reduction of an influence deemed to be dangerous to their desired messianic worship? An attack on religious (read Christian) values would seem to be simply a continuation policies we have seen from our government for many years... an attack that accelerates under Democratic rule.
Half the answer is for faith based groups to refuse federal funds. This helps remove some of the employment hold of Washington. It does not give access however. Not being suitably secular, we probably would see precious few such organizations remaining on the job. Who knows... somebody might get saved and turn from their wicked ways!
This is just one of the challenges we face over the next several years. These are the kind of challenges that don't go away by themselves and don't fall to half hearted efforts. Now is the time to speak up, raise a ruckus, spread the word and pray!