Faith-Based Initiatives
An interesting story about the President's Faith-Based Initiative Program appeared in the Washington Post this week.
While the program was intended to take money from federal welfare programs and distribute it to the needy through their churches, a report just out finds that among black churches, only 3% have signed up and received funds.
But before we accuse the GOP of rabid racism a couple of points should be made. First, the report found that churches with liberal congregations and theologies were far more likely to apply for and receive funds than conservative churches - allaying fears that Bush might try to reward ideological allies. The report found that this was largely because those are the churches that generally have charity programs in place.
Second, the report noted that many black churches' pastors work full time and have neither the time nor the facilities to administer any but the most minor charity programs.
Taken as a whole, the above leads to a couple of obvious conclusions.
First, the idea that churches can really perform the functions of government is shown to be specious. The report found that most churches that did offer aid did it in the form of food pantries and used-clothing giveaways - hardly a substitute for robust, effective government programs.
Second, it seems to indicate that conservative attacks on government welfare is indicative, not of a desire for small government & faith-based, community initiatives, but of a general unwillingness to help others - otherwise known as selfishness.
It has always boggled my mind to hear conservative suggest that government should abdicate its responsibilities and leave churches to take up the slack. Can a church provide universal healthcare, student loans, housing, an unemployment check? Of course not, and even if some could, it would mean that the quality of care one receives would depend simply on one's faith.
While the program was intended to take money from federal welfare programs and distribute it to the needy through their churches, a report just out finds that among black churches, only 3% have signed up and received funds.
But before we accuse the GOP of rabid racism a couple of points should be made. First, the report found that churches with liberal congregations and theologies were far more likely to apply for and receive funds than conservative churches - allaying fears that Bush might try to reward ideological allies. The report found that this was largely because those are the churches that generally have charity programs in place.
Second, the report noted that many black churches' pastors work full time and have neither the time nor the facilities to administer any but the most minor charity programs.
Taken as a whole, the above leads to a couple of obvious conclusions.
First, the idea that churches can really perform the functions of government is shown to be specious. The report found that most churches that did offer aid did it in the form of food pantries and used-clothing giveaways - hardly a substitute for robust, effective government programs.
Second, it seems to indicate that conservative attacks on government welfare is indicative, not of a desire for small government & faith-based, community initiatives, but of a general unwillingness to help others - otherwise known as selfishness.
It has always boggled my mind to hear conservative suggest that government should abdicate its responsibilities and leave churches to take up the slack. Can a church provide universal healthcare, student loans, housing, an unemployment check? Of course not, and even if some could, it would mean that the quality of care one receives would depend simply on one's faith.
posted by Sparx at 09:42
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