In light of the Bush administration’s decision to give “faith-based” groups more than $1 billion last year, Oliver Willis raised a good point the other day.
An idea I’ve had since ’99: Satanists Against Hunger.
See if that one gets any federal bucks.
Oliver was touching on a point in this debate that is frequently overlooked: When it comes to giving out our tax dollars to religious ministries, Bush wants to play favorites.
When presidential candidate Bush first started talking about this, respect for diversity ruled the day. In a 1999 speech in Indianapolis, Bush said, “We will keep a commitment to pluralism [and] not discriminate for or against Methodist or Mormons or Muslims or good people with no faith at all.”
This ecumenical commitment to diversity soon disappeared and discrimination became an integral part of the plan.
In March 2000, Bush was asked if tax dollars would be distributed to the Nation of Islam to provide publicly financed services through the “faith-based” initiative.
“I don’t see how we can allow public dollars to fund programs where spite and hate is the core of the message. Louis Farrakhan preaches hate.”
How would the government decide which traditions preach hate and which don’t? Bush didn’t say. In fact, he’s never answered that question because he can’t. As soon as the White House starts deciding which are the “good” religions that can accept federal grants, his plan quickly falls apart.
It wasn’t just Bush’s shot at the National of Islam, either. Other administration officials involved with the faith-based scheme, including Jim Towey and Stephen Goldsmith, have also indicated that certain faith traditions will be excluded from receiving funds.
To hear Bush administration officials tell it, eventually we’ll find a list, prepared by the White House, of officially approved religious groups. Bush can write down the ones he likes, note the ones he doesn’t like, and his administration will distribute our tax dollars accordingly. I think it’s safe to say “Satanists Against Hunger” won’t make the cut.