Equal Partners on FBOs

Religious leaders express concern over President Bush's Faith-based Office

Latest action threatens religious freedom in this country

Equal Partners in Faith Press Release - February 1, 2001

Washington, DC - Responding to President George W. Bush's creation of the Office of Faith-based and Community Initiatives, religious leaders representing various faith traditions issued stern warnings today to the Bush administration and to religious leaders who would seek federal funds initiated by this office.

"With the stoke of a pen, President Bush has begun the systematic dismantling of the sacred wall separating church and state," stated Rev. Steven Baines, Executive Coordinator of Equal Partners in Faith (EPF) and an openly gay Baptist minister. "President Bush's latest action shows an arrogant insensitivity to our constitutionally-protected right to religious freedom. When faith communities are denied funds because they do not measure up to Bush's conservative litmus test, the government will have returned to the days of state-sponsored religion which our forefathers so strongly rejected at this country's founding."

Many religious leaders wondered today if this trend had already begun with President Bush's comments before attending Lincoln Park United Methodist Church this past Sunday. According to the January 29th edition of the Washington Post, Mark Tooley, a well-known leader in the United Methodist Church's conservative movement, wrote to the Bushes suggesting that, since many of the predominantly white churches in the Washington area are "theologically liberal," they might want to visit a black church. When asked by reporters why he chose Lincoln Park, Bush replied, "It's a good one."

"It is offensive to me as a person of color and as a minister that our President would be in the business of ranking churches," stated Rev. Cedric Harmon, Chair of EPF's People of Color of Faith Working Group. "The implication of President Bush's comment is that if a faith community does not share his conservative belief, then that church is a bad one. I can only infer that these communities dare not apply for funds to help their congregants."

Rev. Meg Riley, Co-Chair of EPF's Board of Directors, shared grave concerns for minority faith communities such as the Unitarian Universalist Association of which she is a minister. "I have heard from many disheartened parents throughout the years when their child was discriminated against at a public school because their faith was not the majority. My concern today is for the poverty-stricken Muslim, the hungry Buddhist, the homeless Jew and even the unwed, pregnant atheist. What happens when the only agency in a community providing food to the homeless is an evangelical Christian church? Under President Bush's new action, no accountability guidelines will be in place to prevent the proselytizing of the homeless before access to needed services is granted."

Joining a growing list of faith-based organizations, Equal Partners in Faith believes that religious freedom is best served when faith communities are left to their own dictates, without governmental strings, on how best to serve their local communities. Religious leaders acknowledged today that there is room for government and faith to work together to solve societal ills, but not at the expense of pitting one faith against another in order to receive government monies.

"I agree with the President that the government need not be a barrier to faith communities in providing social services, but neither should faith be used as a political football to gain partisan advantage," concluded Rev. Baines. "Our country's heritage has been formed by the deep respect for the separation of church and state, and our future will be equally determined by our respect for this sacred wall. I only hope our children will not be greeted by deteriorating brick and mortar."

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Founded in 1997, EQUAL PARTNERS IN FAITH is a multi-faith, multi-racial network of religious leaders and people of faith committed to equality and diversity. Our diverse faith traditions and shared religious values lead us to affirm and defend the equality of all people, regardless of religion, race, ability, gender or sexual orientation. As people of faith, we actively oppose the manipulation of religion to promote exclusion and inequality.

EQUAL PARTNERS IN FAITH is helping mainstream and progressive people of faith promote a more inclusive vision of religion and society.

Equal Partners in Faith 2026 P Street NW Washington, DC 20036 (202) 296-4672 ext. 14 (202) 296-4673 fax email: EPFNatlOfc@aol.com

http://www.us.net/epf