Head Start can hire based on faith

[cynatnite]

WASHINGTON - The House voted Thursday to let Head Start centers consider religion when hiring workers, overshadowing its moves to strengthen the preschool program's academics and finances.

The Republican-led House approved a bill that lets churches and other faith-based preschool centers hire only people who share their religion, yet still receive federal tax dollars.

Democrats blasted that idea as discriminatory.

Launched in the 1960s, the nearly $7 billion Head Start program provides comprehensive education to more than 900,000 poor children. Though credited for getting kids ready for school, Head Start has drawn scrutiny as cases of financial waste and questions about academic quality have surfaced nationwide.

Overall, the House bill would insert more competition into Head Start grants, require greater disclosure of how money is spent, and try to improve collaboration among educators in different grades. Yet on Thursday, the dispute over religion eroded the bipartisan support for Head Start's renewal.

The House passed the bill 231-184; only 23 Democrats voted for it.

GOP lawmakers, with backing from the White House, contend that preschool centers should not have to give up their religious autonomy in order to receive federal grants.

"This is about our children, and denying them exemplary services just because the organization happens to be a religious one is just cruel," said Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C.

The Republican plan would, for example, let a Catholic church that provides Head Start services employ only Catholic child-care workers.

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/12714748.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp

[tatertop]

1. that's as wrong as wrong can be

[stopbush]

2. The theocracy has arrived in full force.

This will be challenged in the courts and will eventually end up at the Roberts-led SCOTUS which will let stand blight on the Constotution.

[w13rd0]

3. Welcome to the American Madrassa

How would you like your extremism today?

[TallahasseeGrannie]

4. They have every right to hire whom they want to hire

AND THAT IS WHY THEY SHOULDN'T GET TAX DOLLARS. Period.

[msongs]

5. This means people can REFUSE to hire christians, as well ->

if somebody can refuse to hire me if I am not a christian, that means I can refuse to hire that somebody because they are christian.


Msongs
www.msongs.com/clark2008.htm

[China_cat]

6. Oh well

you don't have to go to the trouble and expense to ban books when nobody can read them.

[rzemanfl]

7. Then they should go all the way. No criminal background check,

no diploma, no drug screen, no TB test, no transcripts, no references, no work history or Social Security card-JUST FAITH-that'll work.

[ismnotwasm]

8. Interesting.

So they gut any affimative action program they can find, and now allow a RELIGION to define hiring criteria for a publicly funded program. Everytime I think they can't sink any lower....
This is such bullshit it's beyond belief. And I doubt it will hold up in court, but these days, who knows?

[liveoaktx]

9. VIDEOS of OUR DEMS speaking up against this today

Separation of Church and State

[cynatnite]

11. Thank You n/t

[Zynx]

10. That's lunacy of the highest order.