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!
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.
ReplyDeleteThat's not the impression I get from reading the linked article, but we'll see.
ReplyDeleteWhy is it that I think churches such as Rev. Wright's will be getting the lion's share of such funding?
ReplyDeleteThat's a rhetorical question, right, Ellen K?
ReplyDelete