It isn't about religion, it's about not having public oversight

[CornField]

Faith-Based Initiative funds = taxpayer money

When the government takes taxpayer money and provides it to non-public entities of any kind, there needs to be an extra protection to determine if the entity is doing as directed with said funds. Why should the government then have a say in the inner workings of the agency/entity? Because the public does not.

Let's say that we have two free general health clinics. Both provide immunizations, check-up, well baby visits and more... but the only one which is truly under the control of the people is the one which is run by a government agency. A clinic run by a church or a religious organization might be of benefit to the community, but it is not subject to the same public scrutiny as a "public" entity. How does the general public know if the Greater Christian Society, for instance, is providing winter coats to children or bags of food to the needy? We, as citizens and individuals, have no avenue of scrutiny. We cannot demand record books. We cannot hold the entities spending our money accountable.

Just as there are safeguards (albeit far too limited ones) in place for defense and other government issued contracts, there must also be safeguards set in place for religious or other community-based entities who choose to take taxpayer funds. The people need to know exactly where the money is going and exactly what they are funding. The people need to be in a position to protest and/or praise any activity born of taxpayer funds.

[neoblues]

1. Oversight of Religious Organizations...

is a problem in it's own right--as it would tend to interfere in 'freedom of religion'. So the best approach is simply to respect the notion of separation of church and state/government and avoid such issues altogether.

[CornField]

2. Actually, that's exactly where I'm headed

The faith-based groups which accept taxpayer funds need to soon make a choice on which avenue they find more appealing: direct government oversight or freedom of religion.