Reply #9: Halting the Encroaching Advance of Theocracy is Not Mere Spite [View All]

Bush's Faith Based Initiatives are a form of State sponsored Religion. They violate the establishment clause. They discriminate wildly in favor of Christianity and against all other faiths. They pay lip-service to Judaism and Islam, but no funds go there. They don't even pretend to be fair to other traditions.

They are not allowed to directly use the funds to promote their religion, but they find all sorts of indirect ways to promote their religion in the course of their activities.

Further, they are being used to undermine the role of government in providing these services. First, tax money goes to these religious groups, who use it to provide social services. Next, the case is made that the churches are meeting the needs of the poor. Finally, the right-wingers say that they have been right all along, charity should be private and not public.

How would Christians feel about their tax dollars going to The Church of Satan? Or the local Witches Coven? Well, that's how secular people feel about OUR tax dollars going to religious organizations. There is a reason for the Separation of Church and State. If the government is going to be giving money to religious groups, I'd at least like to see it going to groups that have teachings that are not offensive to me.

But I'd rather have people see Faith Based Initiatives for what they are. I think if people were forced to choose between:

1.) Christian Theocracy, or
2.) tax money going to pagan groups, or
3.) separation of church and state,

they would choose separation of church and state. It is only by providing the illusion that Faith based initiatives do not violate this principle that people accept them. If the choice were forced by a high profile case and a court battle, I think people would wake up and remember why we have the separation and the establishment clause.