President Bush said Saturday that religious charities, partly financed with federal money, have helped reduce homelessness, found jobs for former inmates and helped combat malaria and HIV/AIDS overseas.
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(Photo: AP Images / Evan Vucci)President Bush gestures during remarks at the Office of Faith Based and Community Initiatives National Conference, Thursday, June 26, 2008, in Washington.
Bush used his weekly radio address to trumpet the "remarkable difference these groups have made over the past eight years."
The president said he wants to level the playing field so religious charities and secular charities compete for government money on an equal footing. His White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives survived a legal challenge from a group of atheists and agnostics last year when the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that ordinary taxpayers cannot sue to stop conferences that help religious charities apply for federal grants.
The faith-based program is particularly popular with Christian conservatives, whose support is seen as crucial for the campaign of Republican presidential candidate John McCain, an ally of Bush's. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama also is reaching out to evangelicals.
Praising the work of faith-based groups, Bush said: "Through their partnerships with the government, these organizations have helped reduce the number of chronically homeless by nearly 12 percent — getting more than 20,000 Americans off the streets. They have helped match nearly 90,000 children of prisoners with adult mentors. And they have helped provide services such as job placement for thousands of former inmates.
"Faith-based and community groups have also had a powerful impact overseas. In Africa, they have participated in our Malaria Initiative. In just over two years, this effort has reached more than 25 million people — and according to new data, malaria rates are dropping dramatically in many parts of that continent."
Comments
After almost 8 years of Bush economics, so many more people are needing these services now!
Coming from the man who says all religions worship the same gOD, his faith based initiatives wills end folks straight to hell (on a full stomach). Not much comfort in that....
Living in an area of the country where FEMA is working hard to get our people back in their homes, clean up the aftermath of floodwaters, and set things to rights, I have come to wonder what motivates the government to come to the rescue other that to engage a bureaucracy that is well intentioned, but is ill-equiped to meet the challenges. Too many long lines, too much paper work, tto much weeding out honest need from exploitation of the situation. Faith-based iniatives add an element of compassion, particularly in the neighborhood. Galatians 6:10 teaches us: So then, as we have opportunity, let us work that which is good toward all men, and especially toward them that are of the household of the faith. The midwest floods have given the opportunity; the locals have pitched in, and the added aid from friends and family has been encouraging. Churches have mobilized, as our local charitable groups. Government has impact, but let the people engage the problem. And may the Lord bless the efforts of the faithful. Good people, and not all need be Christian, have the chance to reflect this Christian verse.