BJC Requests Changes in Faith-based Program

The Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty has joined several other organizations in calling for the White House to change the way that religious non-profits use taxpayer dollars.

The key change requested is to put an end to the practice of allowing religious non-profits to violate constitutional safeguards and federal laws in their hiring practices. Here are the central changes requested:

The letter urges President Obama to "restore the constitutionally-required safeguards and civil rights protections governing partnerships between government and religiously-affiliated institutions" and recommends three key steps:

1. Religious organizations should be prohibited from discriminating in hiring on the basis of religion within federally-funded social welfare projects.

2. The recommendations of the Reform of the Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships Taskforce should be adopted in full.

3. The Administration should amend existing Executive Orders and make uniform guidance resources for federal agencies on a number of specific issues.