White House to Congress: Let religious organizations use religion in hiring decisions
In a position paper released to members of Congress, the White House says "religious hiring rights" are part of faith-based organizations' civil rights, and should not be restricted even if the organizations receive public money.

"When they receive federal funds, they should retain their right to hire those individuals who are best able to further their organizations' goals and mission" says the nine-page booklet, Protecting the Civil Rights and Religious Liberty of Faith-based Organizations: Why Religious Hiring Rights Must Be Preserved. (Weblog can't find the booklet online, but it might later be posted here.)

Whether federally funded religious organizations can use religious criteria in making hiring decisions has been the sticking point on a number of bills lately, from the faith-based initiative bill to a restructuring of the Head Start education program. Opponents claim allowing such hiring distinctions amounts to government-sponsored bigotry, while supporters say it's bigotry not to give religious organizations the freedom to make such employment decisions.

"A secular group that receives government money is currently free to hire based on its ideology and mission," says the White House booklet (according to a Religion News Service story not available online). "Allowing religious groups to consider faith in hiring when they receive government funds simply levels the playing field—by making sure that, when it comes to serving impoverished Americans, faith-based groups are as welcome at the government's table as nonreligious ones."

In fact, the Civil Rights Act of 1972 already gives religious organizations such hiring rights, but other ...