Bush's "charitable choice'' initiative

[justoleme]

but do you know of the goat riders of Belguim?Rikbe could enlighten you on this matter if you were so inclined as to be curious on that item. If you live in a public school tax area in the USA and you would.but if you send your child to a Christianschool or home school you will pay the public school tax anyway.If you want to get introule in the USA ,Ask how much of your school tax dollars go to ball games rather than academic interest.

[rikbe]

Every Russian and European knows that story but I am not sure about people who think that history started with the battle of Alamo.

[Kathrine_dah_Great]

BUSH: PASS RELIGIOUS CHARITY BILL
By LAWRENCE L. KNUTSON Associated Press Writer

WACO, Texas (AP) . President Bush said Saturday he is trying to make government more compassionate by letting religious charities compete more easily for taxpayer money.

``A compassionate government should find ways to support their good works,'' Bush said in his weekly radio address Saturday. ``Unfortunately, government often treats charities and community groups as rivals instead of partners.''

Bush has been seeking to persuade Congress to pass legislation opening government's doors wider to churches, synagogues and other ``faith-based organizations.''

The initiative has raised concerns that it would violate the constitutional separation between church and state.

Bush echoed the findings of a report last week that contended federal officials routinely discriminate against religious groups when handing out grant money by taking those fears too far.

The report, based on data from five Cabinet agencies, ``documents a government bias against faith and community-based organizations, a bias that exists even when constitutional concerns about church and state have been addressed,'' Bush said.

``Government administrators restrict religious groups from even applying for funding simply because they are religious,'' he said.

Such government restrictions infringe on the civil rights of such religious groups, he said.

Bush noted that the House has already passed the necessary legislation. He urged the Senate to do likewise when it returns after Labor Day from its summer recess.

The measure has attracted little Democratic support. No legislation has been introduced in the Senate, where Democrats are in control.

Bush said the program can help broaden government programs intended to encourage home ownership among low-income people, and provide an array of social services, including shelters for battered women and children, pregnancy centers, drug addiction treatment programs, and care for the homeless.

``If you agree, let your senator know if you see him or her during the congressional recess,'' the president said.

Bush made no mention of Friday's resignation of John DiIulio as leader of his effort to steer legislation through Congress to open 10 government programs to participation by faith-based groups.

DiIulio, director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, said he was leaving for health and personal reasons.

DiIulio said he had always intended to assess his position after six months. He also indicated, however, that he had become frustrated at the influence of politics on the issue, and worn down by critics from conservative as well as liberal groups.

``Things that should be bipartisan can turn partisan,'' said DiIulio, a Democrat on leave from the University of Pennsylvania faculty. ``Things that should bring people together divide them. The good news is that leadership ultimately trumps that.''

[justoleme]

Was founded by CHRISTIANS..the original schools were christian funded..now those liberals want to bleed the taxpayers to aid their own people.those that leach of taxpayers in the education system.anyone know how much taxmoney we spend on schools.and is donated..yet goes to ball games and teaching that stuff?

[Soodna]

Can anyone tell me...how many tax dollars have been paid by these "Religeous organizations" that will be the possible receipients of our "hard earned" tax dollars paid to the U.S. government?