Non-Christians need not apply

[Jeff_Ricks]

http://www.sptimes.com/2006/08/13/Columns/Non_Christians_need_n.shtml

Thanks to President Bush and his plan to Christianize the nation's provision of social services, one's relationship with Jesus Christ has become a real resume booster. As author Michelle Goldberg reports in her new book, Kingdom Coming: The Rise of Christian Nationalism, Bush has ushered in affirmative action for the born-again...

This reallocation of social service money from secular agencies to religiously affiliated programs has also resulted in shifting employment opportunities. But some of these new employers have a shocking job requirement - only Christians need apply...

Lown says she was handed a form that all employees were expected to complete, asking for list of churches she attended over the last 10 years and the name of her present minister. Lown says she was told that indicating "not applicable" was not an option. A lawyer for the Salvation Army says the form was modified after complaints were received.

But Lown said that atmosphere was fear-inducing for the professional staff.

She pointed to a mission statement that all employees were required to support as a condition of employment. It stated that the organization's mission "is to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ."


Jeff

[lunaverse]

I think "privatizing" social services is a good thing, but it sounds like they're giving preference to religious social services. Geez! Like no secular non-profit ever gave out food and shelter to the needy.

That freaking sucks. :/

Luna

[Born Free]

I think "privatizing" social services is a good thing, but it sounds like they're giving preference to religious social services. Geez! Like no secular non-profit ever gave out food and shelter to the needy.

That freaking sucks. :/

Luna
And it places at great risk the separation between Church and State.

[helemon]

And it places at great risk the separation between Church and State.

I thought that the rules said that if they received federal aid that they could not preach while delivering aid or withhold aid from people who were not of their faith. I think it is a reality that in many communities it is the churches who have the greatest capacity for delivering social aid but I agree that even if the church members kept silent they are still proselyting for their faith. Also, do the recipients of the aid know that the money is coming from the Government and not the generosity of the church members? The fact that a church is administering the aid to people could create a sense of psychological indebtedness to the religion who is just passing out the cash for the government.

[dogzilla]

I still think we should privatize our school systems and then make the churches pay taxes. I should run for office on that platform, except I'd never make it through the background checks. :o