Freedom of Religion Issues in Government

June 27, 1999

Source: The Boston Globe

On June 27, 1999, The Boston Globe published an article on the stances being taken by presidential contenders on the issue of religion in politics. Both George W. Bush and Al Gore are in favor of giving federal moneys to faith-based organizations to administer government services, like drug treatment, combating homelessness, and youth-violence prevention programs. Andrew Kohut, director of the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, stated: "Our polling suggests people are much more comfortable mixing religion and politics than they were in the '60s, when the separation of church and state was more in keeping with public opinion than it is today." US Representative Barney Frank is more cautious about allowing faith-based organizations to have federal moneys: "Churches are now saying, 'It is precisely because we inculcate religion and make them better people that you should give us [taxpayer] money'...My answer to that is, you have a right to do that, but you don't have a right to have the government pay you to do that." Rabbi David Saperstien, director and counsel for the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, also sees a danger in giving faith organizations federal moneys: "Churches and synagogues and mosques will begin to compete for limited funding available, and government will have to choose which groups it thinks can do a better job...This will have an enormous divisive impact on the religious communities of America."