Earls knows of no county in North Carolina paying for services from a church-based group. Most mentor programs run within county government or through nonprofit urban ministries. Charitable choice allows the use of religious language. Faith-based agencies are free from some government mandates. Organizations don't have to meet diversity goals and can hire and fire employees based on religious grounds, despite their use of federal money.
Faith groups are subject to the same financial audits as other providers.
Public money can't be spent on worship, instruction or proselytizing. That's hard to monitor, Gaylor said. The American Civil Liberties Union has questioned the legality of the provision, which Gaylor calls part of the religious right's anti-welfare agenda. Meeting needs is a Christian's duty, not a carrot to draw needy people into the congregation, she said. The church sets aside part of its budget for local ministry work.