Mixed Reactions to Funding of Faith-Based Organizations

March 2, 2001

Source: Los Angeles Times

On March 2, 2001, the Los Angeles Times reported that "misgivings [about Bush's new faith-based initiative] are coming from many religious leaders, including a number of conservatives who otherwise favor Bush policies...Some...have been burned by government regulations that imposed changes they did not like. Some members of religious minorities fear...that they will be overlooked. And there are some who warn that the grants lead to spiritual compromises; they say religion gets lost in the bargain." Pat Robertson, head of the Christian Coalition, is concerned about what he calls the "brainwashing techniques" of the Church of Scientology and the Hare Krishnas, among others. Others ask, "Is it moral to accept the money?" There are also questions about who will decide which groups get funds, and which groups are eligible.