wfn.org | Religious speakers oppose charitable-choice legislation

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June 29, 2001 News media contact: Joretta Purdue ·(202) 546-8722·Washington
10-21-71B{296}

By Joretta Purdue*

WASHINGTON (UMNS) - As the debate on charitable-choice legislation heated up
in the House of Representatives, leaders of several public policy advocacy
groups related to Protestant denominations voiced skepticism about the
proposed law.

The United Methodist Church is clear on what it considers appropriate for a
partnership with the state for the purpose of providing social service, said
Jim Winkler, top staff executive of the denomination's Board of Church and
Society.

One of several speakers at a June 28 press conference on the lawn of the
U.S. Capitol, Winkler said he hoped the Bush administration would hear their
concerns and change the legislation. Agreements made earlier in the week
between President Bush and congressional Republicans were being discussed in
committee, which hoped to finish its work before Congress adjourned for the
Fourth of July recess.

"We believe that no private agency, because of its religious affiliations,
ought to be exempted from any of the requirements and standards applied to
programs seeking financial support," Winkler said.

The denomination supports partnerships between church and state, he
affirmed. "As a matter of fact, our church has been in partnership with the
state in many different ventures, providing non-sectarian and
non-proselytizing social and educational services in our communities, never
losing sight of our faith or our commitment to serve Christ.

"Charitable choice as set forth in existing law and as proposed in H.R. 7
clearly contradicts the minimum requirements set forth by our church as to
what must be in place before a religious group accepts tax dollars in order
to provide social services," he declared.

He listed as problems the exemption of religious groups from civil rights
laws barring hiring discrimination, the potential weakening of the prophetic
voice of religious groups by excessive reliance on public money, risk of
government interference in the internal affairs of religious groups, elected
officials' temptation to play politics with religious groups and crossing
over the lines of separation when drug rehabilitation programs require
acceptance of Jesus Christ as personal savior.

"The United Methodist Church has no difficulty in partnering with government
to do what is right for people in need," he said. "We do not have any
difficulty with the government providing access to religiously motivated
organizations to compete for federal dollars. We cannot agree, however, in
the establishment of 'faith' as a separate category which sets religious
groups apart from the requirements that others are obligated to meet in
order to provide social services."

K. Hollyn Hollman, general counsel for the Baptist Joint Committee, noted
that this press conference was not the first time people of faith had
opposed charitable choice.  

"More than 1,000 clergy persons from across the theological spectrum and
geographical map have signed their names to a petition urging President Bush
and members of Congress to reject any 'faith-based' funding plans that do
not protect Americans against religious discrimination or that jeopardize
the independence of houses of worship," she said. "Of course, there is room
for cooperation between religion and government that may be beneficial to
both."

The Rev. Elenora Giddings Ivory, director of the Washington Office of the
Presbyterian Church USA, said that religious groups want to follow the
biblical mandate to feed the hungry and clothe the naked.  "We support a
partnership between government and a religious community that would help us
expand our programs."

At the same time, she warned that her denomination feels a need to protect
the religious freedom of those eligible to receive human services.

"We believe," said Marvin M. Silver, representing the United Church of
Christ, "that H.R. 7 in its current form does not adequately protect the
religious autonomy of religious organizations in their collaborative efforts
with state and local governments, does not protect the rights of
beneficiaries ... and does not protect those seeking employment in this area
of human services delivery."

Tom Hart of the Episcopal Office of Government Relations cited a resolution
passed by the church's executive council earlier this month. Its four
conditions included not requiring recipients of services to take religious
instruction, not discriminating among the recipients, using professional
accounting standards in handling funds and not discriminating or giving
preference to anyone in employment for these programs.

Florence Kimball of the Friends Committee on National Legislation said that,
while not denying the good that could come from some pervasively religious
programs, the remarkable freedom of religious expression available to all
faiths in the United States must be preserved. "Legislation of such
importance merits meaningful exploration," she urged.

The Rev. John Burns, pastor of University Baptist Church in College Park,
Md., read a statement by Curtis Ramsey Lucas, director of the legislative
advocacy office of the American Baptist Churches, USA. "Confusing rhetoric
used to portray government and faith-based partnerships and the sting of
labels implying a lack of faith by some, must give way to a more deliberate
debate," he said.

Helping people with food, housing and other necessities is not charity, he
added. "It's justice!" Burns said he did not want to see a change in
emphasis to charity in place of the social service that churches are called
to do.

In introducing the topic and speakers, the Rev. Eliezer Valentin-Castanon,
also a staff executive of the United Methodist board, noted that this
legislation makes charitable choice the guide or standard for any other kind
of granting process. He said the denominations differed in many beliefs but
their representatives all had problems with H.R. 7.  

He provided copies of "Community-Based Ministries and Government Funding," a
guide that was prepared in the spring by three United Methodist agencies:
the boards of Global Ministries and of Church and Society and the General
Council on Finance and Administration. It may be downloaded from their Web
sites, and limited printed copies are available from the agencies.

# # #

*Purdue is news director of United Methodist News Service's Washington
bureau.

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United Methodist News Service
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