The White House is expected to announce tomorrow the creation of a Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, part of its effort to overhaul the White House office of faith-based initatives.
The group will do more than steer federal social-service funds to religious organizations, said the Rev. Jim Wallis, who expects to be named to the council. "This is a much broader mission than who gets funded," he said.
Wallis, who presides over Sojourners, a progressive Christian organization based in the District, said that he expects the council will advise the president on substantive policy issues -- both foreign and domestic.
Sounds to me like the Christians will have even more access to, and influence on, the President than they had in the last administration. How interesting!
4 comments:
It doesn't mean Christian organizations will have more access to or influence on the President. Not at all. It probably means the opposite. I distinctly remember an interview with Obama during the campaign where he said faith-based groups will be required to have the same hiring practices as other government organizations. Also, they have to keep the "faith-based" part entirely separate from the part that does the work. In other words, as a faith-based group you can help, but you better keep your faith to yourself.
That's not the impression I get from reading the linked article, but we'll see.
Why is it that I think churches such as Rev. Wright's will be getting the lion's share of such funding?
That's a rhetorical question, right, Ellen K?
Post a Comment