Bush (*) Pushes Faith-Based Aid Initiative [View All]

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Bush Pushes Faith-Based Aid Initiative

Jun 1, 11:27 PM (ET)

By KATA KERTESZ

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Bush, trying to revive a stalled initiative, said Tuesday the doctrine of separation of church and state should not prevent religious groups from competing for government money to help the needy.

"I'm telling America, we need to not discriminate against faith-based programs," Bush told a White House conference of community leaders. "We need to welcome them so our society is more wholesome, more welcoming and more hopeful for every single citizen."

Opponents of Bush's initiative, launched in the early days of his administration, worry that government could wind up paying for religion. They also object to allowing taxpayer-funded groups to hire and fire based on religious persuasion. But the proposal is popular with religious groups, a key political constituency, and Bush is pushing it as an election-year initiative.

"I fully understand it's important to maintain the separation of church and state," Bush said. "We don't want the state to become the church nor do we want the church to become the state. We're in common agreement there."

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http://apnews.myway.com/article/20040602/D82UKIA00.html