By Bob Allen / Baptist News Global
This is an abbreviated version of the story. For the full story, click here.
The White House announced proposed rules Aug. 5 from nine federal agencies clarifying rights and responsibilities of faith-based and community organizations receiving taxpayer funds.
The proposals, which must pass through a 60-day period of public comment before being finalized, implement a 2010 executive order by President Obama to reform the relationship between religious bodies and government entities. The executive order adopted recommendations made by the first President’s Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships intended to strengthen both the effectiveness and constitutional and legal footing of government contracts with faith-based providers of social services.
“The proposed rules clarify the principle that organizations offering explicitly religious activities may not subsidize those activities with direct federal financial assistance and must separate such activities in time or location from programs supported with direct federal financial assistance,” Melissa Rogers, director of the White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships, said in a White House blog announcing the proposed rule changes. “For example, if a faith-based provider offers a Bible study as well as a federally supported job training program, the Bible study must be privately funded and separated in time or location from the job training program.”
Rogers, a lifelong Baptist who once worked for the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, said the rules also clarify that people who receive benefits supported by direct financial federal assistance cannot be discriminated against because of religious belief or be required to participate in any religious activities in exchange for receiving a social service.
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The Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty issued a statement terming the rulemaking process an “important step toward implementing reforms in government partnerships with faith-based groups.”
“We appreciate the hard work of the agencies that is aimed at clarifying and strengthening protections for religious liberty, consistent with the executive order,” said BJC General Counsel Holly Hollman. “The proposed regulations will increase the understanding of the rights and responsibilities of both service providers and beneficiaries. We look forward to reviewing the proposed regulations and submitting comments as needed.”
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