The Baptist Joint Committee has issued a statement following the President Obama's Executive Order offering reforms to the faith-based office. Here's a snippet including remarks from BJC Director Brent Walker, who noted both the good and the bad in today's order:
Overall, Walker was pleased with the executive order, as well as the deliberations of the task force and advisory council that led to it.
“The President’s Executive Order makes major strides in more clearly identifying how government and religious organizations can work together effectively while honoring constitutional protections for religious liberty,” he said. “As a member of the Reform of the Office Task Force, I was privileged to have had a part in contributing to this very helpful and needed executive order.”
Not mentioned in the executive order was the issue of whether the government should require houses of worship to form separate corporations, such as 501(c)(3) organizations, to receive federal funding for social services and work to reduce barriers to obtaining 501(c)(3) status. The BJC has long-supported this approach as a way to avoid commingling federal dollars with financial gifts from parishioners.
“I regret that our recommendation requiring a separate corporation was not included, but the executive order embraced most of our recommendations,” Walker said.
The amendments did not address the contentious issue of religious hiring in government-funded programs, leaving in place Bush-era regulations. This issue was not part of the Advisory Council’s charge. The administration has stated that the issue will be treated on a case-by-case basis by the Attorney General and the White House Counsel.
“This admittedly divisive issue cannot be kicked down the road forever,” Walker said. “The president missed an opportunity on this point. It’s simply wrong for the government to subsidize religious discrimination.”
Earlier coverage of the Executive Order, including links to the full document and the White House press release is here.
