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ACLU: Action Alert [IMAGE] [IMAGE] [IMAGE] Send a FREE FAX! [IMAGE] Send a Free FAX Enter Your Zip Code What's This? Extra Credit: Fax President Bush! Tell A Friend Join the ACLU E-mail Action Network [IMAGE] [IMAGE] [IMAGE] Related Links [IMAGE] ACLU Clearinghouse on Government-Funded Religion Statement on Potential Harm of Charitable Choice Provisions in Community Solutions Act of 2001 (H.R. 7) Letter in Opposition to Anti-Civil Rights Provisions in Watts Faith-Based Intiative Legislation Letter from the Working Group for Religious Freedom in Social Services ACLU Statement on Churches and "Charitable Choice" ACLU News Release on Bush Faith-Based Initiative Other Civil Liberties Issues In Congress More ACLU Info on Religious Liberty [IMAGE] [IMAGE] [IMAGE] Advocacy Tools! [IMAGE] National Freedom Scorecard - a Civil Liberties Voters' Guide Tips on Meeting with Your Elected Officials Tips on Writing to Your Elected Officials Tips on Writing a Letter to the Editor [IMAGE] [IMAGE] [IMAGE] [IMAGE] [IMAGE] Protect Religious Liberty: Oppose President Bush's Faith-Based Initiative Despite repeated controversies and reports that President Bush's faith-based initiative has lost its momentum, the full House of Representatives is expected to vote as early as Wednesday on legislation that would implement the President's fundamentally flawed plan. The legislation, (H.R. 7,), the "Community Solutions Act," includes provisions that sharply attack one of the oldest civil rights principles -- that tax dollars not fund discrimination. Because the proposal removes restrictions on how religious organizations incorporate their beliefs into the delivery of social services, discrimination would be permitted in hiring decisions and in the delivery of services. The President has repeatedly claimed that the bill would include sizable tax incentives for charitable giving and new funding for social service programs, both are absent from the bill that will be voted on-only the government-funded religion provisions remain. Further, the legislation now includes a provision that allows Cabinet Secretaries to turn any social service program into a voucher program. This unprecedented move would allow longstanding grant programs to be converted to voucher programs without Congressional approval and would remove legal barriers that now stop religious organizations from proselytizing beneficiaries. The Bush faith-based initiative would obliterate any distinction between religious institutions that would follow the rules and not use public money to proselytize and those that would gladly violate the nation's fundamental principles. Oppose this legislation now! [IMAGE] H.R. 7 provides no new funds for social services programs. The President has repeatedly stated that his faith-based initiative would provide new money for social service programs as well as tax incentives to encourage charitable giving. This legislation provides no new money and only makes it easier for religious groups to proselytize and discriminate with tax dollars. [IMAGE]The Bush initiative would allow for taxpayer-funded discrimination. Religion is a very personal belief that varies from individual to individual. We need to protect each person's religious freedom, including the freedom to receive services without being forced to listen to another's religious beliefs. Under the Bush proposal, there would be no restrictions on how religious organizations incorporate their beliefs into the delivery of social services. Further, religious organizations would be allowed to be discriminate against applicants for jobs with federally funded on the basis of religion, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, HIV status, or any other characteristic that a religious organization find objectionable. [IMAGE]Government should not get into the business of religion.This proposal would expose religious institutions to invasive government regulation, including compliance reviews and audits. We must not put government in the position of regulating religion. [IMAGE]H.R 7 would fund proselytization. This legislation includes a provision that allows any Cabinet Secretary to convert existing social service programs into voucher programs. As a result, the voucher provision removes the legal barriers that now stop religious organizations from proselytizing beneficiaries. TAKE ACTION! Send a Free FAX in 2 Clicks! Enter Your Zip Code - What's This? Extra Credit:Fax President Bush! Visit the ACLU Government-Funded Religion Clearinghouse Last updated or verified on July 16, 2001 Copyright 2001, The American Civil Liberties Union [IMAGE] [IMAGE] [IMAGE] ACLU Toolbar [IMAGE] [IMAGE] [IMAGE] - actalerthd2_2.gif - grey.gif - yellow.gif - feat_act.gif - feat_links.gif - feat_advtools.gif - space.gif - starbullet.gif - feat_ft2.gif - toolbar.gif
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