March 26, 2001
EDITORIAL:
Find a way for faith-based ministry
___Crises at two Christian ministries illustrate the pervasive and often beneficial partnership between government and religious agencies as well as the peril of scaling the wall that separates church from state.
___Last year, Kentucky Baptist Homes for Children, the largest provider of child care in the commonwealth, nearly lost its contract with the state government because of its policy barring employment of homosexuals. Since the agency receives state reimbursement for children under its care, homosexual activists claimed, it should not be allowed to discriminate in employment. A rupture between KBHC and the state would have been disastrous for both. It would have meant financial disaster for the agency, and the state could not have come up with enough beds for children under its care.
___The situation is not unique. Vast numbers of neglected and abused children in Texas and across the nation live in religiously affiliated facilities funded at least in part by tax dollars. This has been true for years. The benevolence agencies could not serve anywhere near the number of clients they currently help without government financial support. And the government could not meet the needs of dependent citizens without the expert help of the religious organizations.
___More recently, Samaritan's Purse, the benevolence-relief ministry founded and operated by evangelist Franklin Graham, has come under fire as well as government investigation. Federal officials are seeking to determine if Samaritan's Purse utilized some of its government grant money to underwrite its overtly evangelistic ministries. Negative findings could undermine the ministry's credibility and potentially undercut its financial stability.
___Such scenarios represent crucial aspects of President Bush's new faith-based and community initiatives program, "charitable choice."
___He should be commended for seeking to help poor, disadvantaged and struggling Americans. Few citizens would argue the government fully meets their needs. Many have noted the most profoundly successful programs are operated by faith-based organizations. Logic indicates a solution might involve less of government and more of religion.
___But picking a path through that bureaucratic briar patch makes explaining the First Amendment's establishment and free exercise religion clauses seem simple. The president's program isn't going to be implemented easily.
___For example, a president doesn't equally anger the left and the right just any day. But charitable choice has drawn the ire of Pat Robertson and Barry Lynn. Televangelist Robertson doesn't want any faith groups he doesn't like, such as Muslims, to get government funding. Lynn, director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, worries about government regulation of religion, as well as government favoritism of one religion over another. The best news has been Congress' go-slow approach to the program.
___We need time to seek consensus. We must protect religious liberty while we also strengthen services for the weakest and most needy Americans. Surely we can do both.
___First and foremost, we must safeguard religious liberty. Those who minimize this danger exhibit cultural and historical myopia. Government oversight certainly will follow government funds. Church-based, state-funded ministries could find themselves religiously restricted by government regulations, simultaneously violating both the establishment and free exercise clauses. Moreover, if the government were to get into the business of choosing between "good" and "bad" religion--as Robertson wishes--all religious liberty for all citizens ultimately would be at stake. These are not idle concerns and should receive careful attention. (Ironically, many who most fervently advocate less government seem least troubled by these religious liberty issues.)
___Still, we must find a way to strengthen services for people who need them. For many years, religiously affiliated organizations have worked alongside government agencies to provide care. If we can find ways to replicate this cooperation without requiring undermining compromise, needy people will benefit, and the nation will be stronger.
___Several steps seem necessary:
___Tax-code revisions can create incentive for more private support for church-based ministries.
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___These are terribly important issues. They are vital for the future of religious liberty and for the provision of compassionate care. They should not become political time-bombs.
___ Marv Knox
E-mail the editor at marvknox@baptiststandard.com
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