Melendez and a group of Catholic leaders met with the president Wednesday about his plans. The tax deduction is part of a package of initiatives that Bush wants Congress to turn into legislation. Bush said that the deduction for non-itemizers and other changes to the tax code would invigorate religious and nonprofit groups to address social problems because more people would make donations. There is no way that government can create love. Love comes from a higher calling.
Love is inspirational.
But what government can do is fund and welcome programs whose sole intent is to change lives in a positive way. Bush's plan also calls for widening the pool of federal grants that religious organizations and nonprofit groups can receive. The president believes that such groups are more adept at solving social problems such as poverty, homelessness and hunger than the government is. The study was immediately hailed by Republicans on Capitol Hill as a reason why Bush's initiatives should become the foundation for new legislation. Bush's faith-based initiative has come under fire from groups concerned about maintaining separation of church and state and from some religious leaders who worry that government would dominate religion.