By Fred Jackson
February 20, 2001

(AgapePress) - President Bush’s plan to have government partner with faith-based groups for social causes may open the door to taxpayer funding for organizations that Christians deeply oppose.

When Bush announced the initiative a few weeks ago, he stressed that no theological litmus test would be applied to religious groups wanting to participate.

As The New York Times points out, while established charitable programs run by major denominations like the Salvation Army are likely to face little opposition, the President’s assertion of openness to all may be tested for some of the non-traditional groups lining up to get involved.

As The Times notes, Hare Krishna devotees in Philadelphia who have received millions of dollars in government contracts in recent years for things such as homeless shelters and halfway houses, are getting calls from other Krishna groups across the country for tips on how to become government contractors.

The paper says the Church of Scientology and the Moonies are also planning to seek government funding for various projects.

Christian evangelicals, many of whom regard such groups as cults, may start to question the wisdom of Bush’s plan if it means their tax dollars will be going to support these groups.

In addition, the Anti-Defamation League, a leading Jewish group, has urged the Bush Administration not to enter into partnerships with the Nation of Islam, whose leader, Louis Farrakhan, has a history of disturbing anti-Semitism.

During his campaign, President Bush told the Austin American-Statesman, “I don’t see how we can allow public dollars to fund programs where spite and hate is the core of the message.”

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