House Vote Allowing Religious Discrimination In Head Start Hiring

[realFedUp]

http://www.au.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=7569&news_iv_ctrl=1241&abbr=pr

House Vote Allowing Religious Discrimination In Head Start Hiring Is Shameful, Says Americans United
Thursday, September 22, 2005

Church-State Watchdog Group Calls On Senate To Reject 'Faith-Based' Job Bias In Publicly Funded Program

The House of Representatives today voted 220-196 to allow religious discrimination in hiring for Head Start programs, a move Americans United for Separation of Church and State calls a serious blow to religious liberty and civil rights.

“This is a shameful vote,” said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United. “Publicly funded programs ought to hire the best qualified applicant. I am outraged that House members have inserted religious discrimination into a program like Head Start.”

Aimed at academically disadvantaged youngsters and their families, Head Start is a federally funded pre-school program that operates nationwide. Although sometimes sponsored by religious groups, Head Start is a secular program open to children of all faith backgrounds.

Lynn said he is confident the Senate will not permit discriminatory language to remain in the bill.

“The vote in the House was quite close,” Lynn said, “and momentum is clearly building against taxpayer-funded job bias.”

continued

[fight4my3sons]

1. this makes me so angry

I worked at a Head Start center that was run by Catholic Charities for five years as a Social Worker. The families that we served were made up of many different religions and cultures. It would be a shame if this agency started to hire based on an applicant's religious beliefs. They run six Head Start Centers as well has many mental health centers in the area, serving hundreds of families. They deserve to have services provided by people that have the proper credentials and experience.

[zbdent]

2. "the Senate will not permit" - The 55R-44D-1I Senate will not permit?

Hmm, gotta mull that one over . . .