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But Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, says that people obtaining benefits to which they are entitled shouldn't be confronted with religious icons or messages. "This version exempts religious groups from what everyone else must do," Lynn says. "You don't have to bend the Constitution to provide real relief for people."

Towey believes the President's proposal is constitutional and fair-minded. "We'll make it clear that you don't preach and proselytize on Uncle Sam's dollar. The focus should be on the quality of the service, not on the name or the identity of the organization," he says.

"The government can't love," says Towey, who has seen faith-based organizations up close. He served as legislative director for U.S. Sen. Mark Hatfield, a Republican from Oregon. Towey also was director of Florida's health and rehabilitative services department under Gov. Lawton Chiles, a Democrat.

Towey served as legal counsel for Mother Teresa for 12 years, which led him to become a full-time volunteer at the nun's home for AIDS patients in Washington. In 1996, he founded Aging with Dignity, which promotes compassionate care for the ill elderly. He believes he is up to the new challenge.

"This office exists because there are people who are abused or addicted or homeless," Towey says. "This is not a civil rights office; it's not a religious liberties office. It's an office designed to better serve people."

Copyright © 2002 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

For more coverage of the faith-based initiative see Yahoo's full coverage on the Bush Administration.

Past Christianity Today articles on the faith-based initiative include:

Court Strips Faith Works of State FundsWisconsin vows to appeal setback of Bush-supported initiative. (Feb. 20, 2002)

Weblog: Bush Backs Senate Faith-Based Initiative BillAllowing folks who don't itemize deductions on their tax returns to deduct for charitable giving is apparently huge. (Feb. 2, 2002)

Implacable Foes Find (Some) Common Ground on Faith-Based InitiativesDiverse working group's recommendations represent the minimum, not the maximum, that is politically possible. (Jan. 30, 2002)

The State of the Faith-Based InitiativeOne year after Bush outlined his plan to let religious social-service groups compete for government funds, little has actually made it through Congress. (Jan. 30, 2002)

Where Does the Faith-Based Initiative Stand?Observers look to Bush support, discussion, and the hiring exemption as keys to Charitable Choice legislation. (Sept. 7, 2001)

House Approves Charitable Choice BillHiring protections for religious organizations stays in the bill, but back-room negotiations may mean they won't stay. (July 27, 2001)

DiIulio Pitches Charitable Choice to Cautious NAE DelegatesMeanwhile, group suggests religious broadcasters reconsider severing ties. (March 21, 2001)

No More ExcusesBush's faith-based initiative should reinvigorate our mission of service. (March 15, 2001)

Charitable Choice Dance BeginsFaith-based organizations cautious but eager for government aid. (March 15, 2001)

Bush's Faith-Based PlansGeorge W. Bush, Texas governor and presidential candidate, has placed government cooperation with faith-based initiatives at the core of his campaign. (Oct. 25, 1999)

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April 1 2002, Vol. 46, No. 4