How Christian Groups Push Right-Wing Religion With the Help of Your Tax Dollars

[xchrom]

http://www.alternet.org/teaparty/155129/how_christian_groups_push_right-wing_religion_with_the_help_of_your_tax_dollars/

If you want to help carry out the anti-abortion mission of the taxpayer-funded Care Net Pregnancy Resource Center, you have to be a Christian.

It’s right there on the Rapid City, S.D., center’s volunteer application.

“Do you consider yourself a Christian?” “If yes, how long have you been a Christian?” “As a Christian, what is the basis of your salvation?” “Please provide the following information concerning your local church. Church name … Denomination … Pastor’s name.” “This organization is a Christian pro-life ministry. We believe that our faith in Jesus Christ empowers us, enables us, and motivates us to provide pregnancy services in this community. Please write a brief statement about how your faith would affect your volunteer work at this center.”

But that hasn’t stopped the center from receiving federal funding and other forms of government support.

In 2010, it was awarded a $34,000 “capacity building” grant as part of President Obama’s stimulus bill.

Last year, the nonprofit National Fatherhood Initiative, with “support from the US Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Family Assistance,” awarded the center $25,000 for capacity building.

[ladjf]

1. If these practices aren't illegal, they should be. nt

[Coyote_Bandit]

2. Religious organizations

are legally permitted to discriminate in employment (and in filling volunteer positions) on the basis of religion.

I'm not sure there's anything wrong with that. Muslims and Buddhists (among others) ought not be required to employ born-again Christians to further their religious practices.

That said, IMHO, religious groups should be prohibited from political activism and from advocating on issues of public welfare. And if they don't direct a majority f their financial contributions to local public welfare programs (no cost medical, dental, optical, legal, car clinics and food, clothing, financial assistance to the needy then they should lose their tax exempt status.