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July 01, 2008
The First Let-Down
I read today that Barack Obama wants to expand President Bush's Faith Based Initiative. So, sure, there's a lot of fine print about how Obama's vision of the program is different than Bush's, but really, come on... how is the government supposed to regulate whether federal dollars are being used to proselytize? Should the government have to? And why do we say "faith-based" when we really mean Christian?
Now, I understand that churches do lots of good things, lots of volunteer work, and run lots of legitimate, beneficial charities. I just don't think it's right to be supporting that with federal tax dollars. I don't think the government should be supporting organizations that can hire and fire based on religious beliefs. You scream that my NPR shouldn't be funded by the government, well, I scream that your church soup kitchen shouldn't be funded by the government either. There, we're even.
Is Obama just pandering to Christian Conservatives to try to broaden his appeal for the general election? Does he really think this is a good idea? Because I, for one, have had enough of the government and radical religious elements being in bed together. Unfortunately, the choices here both seem bleak. Either Obama really believes this shit, or he's just playing politics, neither of one rates very high on my list of things to aspire to. I realize that I hold a minority opinion on religious belief, but even if I were religious, I can't see chipping away at the wall between Church and State being a good thing.
update
Here is a link to the Obama campaign website that includes a document outlining Obama's faith initiative. It sounds somewhat less sinister, in that it emphasizes support only for secular programs and includes secular, community based organizations BUT I think my criticism still holds-- how can you separate out proselytizing, especially when churches are ministering to very vulnerable people? And although the programs cannot discriminate according to current Civil Rights law, they can still discriminate in their hiring practices and, presumably, in providing services when it comes to gays and lesbians. Not that that isn't a problem in the secular sector, but it seems we often give a free pass to bigotry when it is religiously motivated.
Posted by mwashburn at July 1, 2008 12:08 PMPosted to Culture & Politics | Skepticism
Comments
I consider myself somewhat religious, but I agree with you 100%. This is exactly what I was afraid was going to start happening once he got the nomination.
Posted by: Carol at July 1, 2008 02:27 PM
Ugh. So if all you naysayers ARE right, what am I supposed to do? Am I going to have to carry through with my repeated threats of moving to Canada?? This SUCKS. I don't want Obama on my shitlist, I really don't!
Posted by: flygrrl at July 1, 2008 02:34 PM