A new group, the Coalition to Preserve Religious Freedom (a multi-faith alliance growing out of the Center for Public Justice), did the best job of explaining that "Obama would create an unprecedented new restriction: every faith-based organization that accepts federal funds would be stripped of its religious staffing freedom when it comes to hiring people to run the federally funded program. There has never been such a sweeping restriction in the past."
The Coalition said it was not "dragging sectarian or political considerations into a discussion that should be about human services and better addressing social needs. Senator Obama rightly calls for an 'all hands on deck' attack on poverty and social problems. For that to occur, the rules have to respect all those 'hands'—treat all those organizations with respect."
The logic is clear: Just as environmental groups do not ignore the environmental views of prospective employees, so "faith-based organizations need the same freedom to take account of convictions and mission when building their staff." But the gay lobby pumps iron, particularly in the Democratic Party.
Journalists should push Obama to drop the code and be forthright about his views concerning not only faith-based initiative groups but any organizations that receive federal benefits in any way. Should Christian colleges whose students make use of government loans be required to hire gay professors and presidents? Will churches lose their tax-exempt status if they do not submit?
Marvin Olasky
Marvin Olasky is editor-in-chief of the national news magazine World. For additional commentary by Marvin Olasky, visit www.worldmag.com.
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