Bush Admin. Gave $1.7 Billion to Faith-Based Groups
The Bush Administration gave $1.7 billion to groups it considers "faith-based" in 2003. Some of the groups say they are not religious, but others are groups to whom prayer and spirituality are central to their existence.
Other grant recipients are religious, offering social service programs that the government may have deemed too religious to receive money before President Bush took office.
Visitors to TMM Family Services in Tucson, Ariz., which received $25,000 for housing counseling, are greeted by a photo of Jesus and quotes from the Bible.
"We believe that people being connected to the faith of their choice is important to them having a productive life," said Don Strauch, an ordained minister and executive director of the group, which offers a variety of social services. "Just because we take government money doesn't mean we back down on that philosophy."
....Elected with strong support of religious conservatives, Bush came to office promising to open government's checkbook to religious groups that provide social services. Often, Bush says, religious groups do a better job serving the poor.
Civll liberties groups criticize the donations, saying that the U.S. should not be funding prayer as it endangers the constitutionally required separation of church and state. We agree.
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