Government can't help but play favorites in faith-charity initiative
Sometimes I am amazed by the childish behavior of religious people. Consider the issue of President Bush trying to help religious people do a better job of providing social services for the needy. This president is not a cruel dictator, and he appears to be genuinely sincere in his desire to help religious people with their mission. So, I ask, why are religious people picking on him and making his job so tough? Good grief, last week Jerry Falwell said he didn't like Bush's so-called faith initiative because Muslims might get some of that money. According to the Council on American Islamic Relations, Falwell said that when religions come asking for federal dollars, "Islam should be out the door before they knock." The reason Falwell feels this way is that he doesn't think religions that teach hate should get federal money. Of course, it must have slipped his mind that he produced and sold a video a few years back that said President Bill Clinton was a murderer, a drug pusher and other slimy things. Could that be considered hate? "I think the Moslem (sic) faith teaches hate," Falwell told Beliefnet Internet service (beliefnet.com). "I think there's clear evidence that the Islam (sic) religion, wherever it has majority control -- and I can name a dozen countries -- doesn't even allow people of other faiths to express themselves or evangelize or to exist in their presence. ... I think that when persons are clearly bigoted towards other persons in the human family, they should be disqualified from funds. Some well-meaning, thoughtful people might contend that Falwell's constitutes hate. But Falwell is not alone in this religion bashing. Pat Robertson, the fundamentalist preacher who appears on cable television's "700 Club," said recently that Bush's plan to give money to religion is "appalling." Robertson was particularly agitated that some "fringe" religions might get some money. "You know, I hate to find myself on the side of the Anti-Defamation League and others, but this is, this gets to be a real problem," Robertson said during a recent broadcast. "I mean, the Moonies have been prescribed, if I can use that, for brainwashing techniques, sleep deprivation and all the rest of it that goes along with their unusual proselytizing. The Hare Krishnas much the same thing. "And it seems appalling to me that we're going to go for somebody like that, or the Church of Scientology, which was involved in an incredible campaign against the IRS." That quote from Robertson is reported by Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, a watchdog group that monitors conversations on the "700 Club." Americans United says all religious groups stand equal in the eyes of the laws of the United States. Since the beginning of our nation, government has been neutral in regard to religion. No religion is ever favored by this government. Yet, how can we expect that religions will not compete for this money? We know childish humans can drive religion -- like any facet of life --. If this initiative by the Bush administration moves into high gear, we will see the government playing favorites. Bush said during the campaign that he would not discriminate against Methodists, Mormons or Muslims or good people with no faith at all. But now he says, according to Americans United, he will not allow funding for the Nation of Islam because it "preaches hate." Stephen Goldsmith, who heads the president's plan, has indicated the Bush administration may also discriminate against Wiccans. People of good faith can see it coming: We know there will be many religions that will receive nothing but discrimination if this plan rolls forward. I think the First Amendment is one of the wisest directives in the Constitution. To tamper with it is foolhardy and ultimately destructive. If the Bush administration spins this initiative into a full-blown program, part of the package will be government regulation. The federal government always regulates what it finances. All those innocent religions standing with their hands out waiting for a gift, will soon find the government's hand rummaging around their inner sanctum. This is a bad idea, and the ultimate result will be the destruction of the voice of religion in this country. Because when you are receiving gifts of jewels with one hand, the other hand is never raised in protest. Therefore, the conscience of this nation will be gone forever. Clark D. Morphew March 17, 2001