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The Wall Street Journal made a similar point in an editorial on Friday. "On the one hand, if Faith Works takes religion seriously, it loses its government benefits. On the other hand, if it abandons religion, it loses its effectiveness. This looks like the kind of government discrimination against religious welfare groups that Congress banned in the 1996 welfare reform. That law's charitable choice provision said faith-based charities could compete with secular organizations for government money." But the decision isn't all bad, says the Journal. "It may do some political good if it serves as a wake-up call to a Congress that has been dithering over the Bush initiative. … We suspect Judge Crabb['s decision will be] reversed, but it would help if Congress expressed its strong desire to let Faith Works work."

What's at stake in all this debate isn't just how much help in helping the poor churches and religious organizations can get from the government. As James W. Skillen, president of the Center for Public Justice, wrote earlier this week,

The weakness in our union at present is due to confusion and unnecessary disagreement over the very meaning of religious freedom. The president's original plan had nothing to do with promoting discrimination or encouraging the imposition of religion on those who don't want it. To secure a just republic, there must be equal treatment of all faiths and philosophies in public as well as in private life. Our union will grow more divided, its poor may become poorer, and its communities may be further weakened if the president and Congress do not enact legislation that insists on the equal treatment of all social-service organizations. It is time to end discrimination against self-acknowledged religious organizations because they refuse to secularize themselves.

Ted Olsen is online managing editor of Christianity Today.

Copyright © 2002 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Also appearing on our site today:

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

Past Christianity Today articles on the Faith Based Initiative include:

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 Bill | Hiring 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 Delegates | Meanwhile, group suggests religious broadcasters reconsider severing ties. (March 21, 2001)

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

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

Bush's Faith-Based Plans | George 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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January (Web-only) 2002, Vol. 46