The proposal could transform the helping hand of the government into a chokehold of discrimination, or it could initiate an unprecedented government regulation of churches and other houses of worship. The Bush faith-based initiative would turn that long tradition on its head, obliterating any distinction between religious institutions that would not use public money to proselytize and those that would. The Bush initiative would allow for taxpayer-funded discrimination.
Religion is a very personal belief that varies from individual to individual.
We need to protect each person s religious freedom, including the freedom to receive services without being forced to listen to another s religious beliefs. Under the Bush proposal, there would be no restrictions on how religious organizations incorporate their beliefs into the delivery of social services. The Watts legislation includes provisions that sharply attack one of the oldest civil rights principles-that tax dollars will not fund discrimination by others. A wrong answer means no job. Government should not get into the business of religion.