A coalition of 56 religious liberty advocates including the Baptist Joint Committee sent a letter to President Obama today expressing disappointment in the administration's apparent refusal to follow through with campaign assurances regarding hiring discrimination for organizations receiving federal funding. The groups ask for clarity on the administration's position (link added):
Unfortunately, the optimism prompted by your campaign statements regarding the Faith-Based Initiative has turned to disappointment. Federal funds are being expended every day under the same inadequate constitutional protections that were imposed by the previous Administration. Most recently, at the July 22 Town Hall Meeting, you responded to a question regarding taxpayer-funded religious discrimination by stating that religious organizations have “more leeway” to “hire somebody who is a believer of that particular faith.” We hope that this statement does not reflect a reversal of your commitment to end federally funded religious discrimination.
The letter also laments the Obama Administration's delay in implementing reforms put in place by Executive Order nearly a year ago following recommendations of the work of the President's Faith-Based Advisory Council.
