Faith Based Initiative No. 169

Adopted 2003
Reaffirmed 2004
Amended 2005

ADA opposes President Bush's unconstitutional Faith-Based Initiative to use taxpayer money -$2 billion in FY 2004, $1.17 billion in FY 2003 - to provide faith-based social services because it violates the First Amendment provisions requiring separation of church and state, authorizes religion-based discrimination against employees and beneficiaries, and delegates governmental responsibility for policy implementation and administration.

ADA believes this initiative is another example of an Administration that believes in de-funding government programs. ADA supports legislation to bar administrative orders promoting the Faith-Based Initiative and its goals and opposes Faith-Based Initiative legislation. In addition, ADA calls for legislation to prohibit:

Religion-based discrimination in hiring by government-funded faith-based programs;
Religion-based discrimination against applicants, prospective applicants, or beneficiaries of government-funded faith-based programs; and
Sectarian worship, instruction, or proselytization in any government-funded faith-based program.

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No. 169