According to Charitable Choice, a group receiving federal funds can display religious signs, does not have to suppress all talk of faith, and can choose employees based on their commitment to religious beliefs and action. Charitable Choice isn t a free for all. There are limits, of course. Providers may not force people needing help to listen to an evangelistic message or to pray and worship. Government funds can t be used to pay for holy scriptures or a chaplain.
All clients have to be helped, even if they reject religion.
Groups have to keep scrupulous account of government funds and comply with reporting requirements. If religious elements are woven through in such a way that a person cannot get help without taking part in religious study, or if you require folks to pray or listen to holy scripture before learning how to search for jobs, then your program won t fit, despite the changes. But maybe it can be reconfigured without loss so that the inherently religious activities are separate and voluntary. Under Charitable Choice, faith doesn t need to be chased out of an organization, but religious observance can t be forced. Religious groups must think carefully about these and other rules before competing for funds covered by Charitable Choice.