In the era of privatization and down sizing of social services, turning over welfare and related activities to religious groups is perceived as both politically astute and financially sensible. Some former stipulations, though, regarding state-church separation still apply. Under the Welfare Reform Act, church groups may not actively and openly evangelize or discriminate on the basis of religious belief when administering programs. The public could end up subsidizing religion-based drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs. Compelling Atheists to Subsidize a Religious Agenda Even with the few restrictions which try to limit the activity of religious groups operating publicly funded social outreaches, the stampede by organizations such as Christian Coalition and Call To Renewal in the direction of the public treasury remains a threat to state-church separation and the rights of nonbelievers.
Some people are just terribly nervous about churches.
The effect, however, could be a dangerous assault on state-church separation and the rights of nonbelievers. There is also the nagging issue of violation of nonbeliever rights. Over ten percent of the American people describe themselves as atheists, freethinkers or skeptics of some kind in matters of religion. Indeed, the historical thrust of the First Amendment's Establishment Clause was to end any religious test for the exercise of rights, and abolition of the compulsory support of religious bodies by the citizenry. Many secularists would argue that it is.