Tipsheet

No Clergy Need Apply

Washington Post blogger Brad Hirschfeld points out an interesting rule change from the Obama administration.

Under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, all federal student loans are forgiven if one works in "public service" for ten years after graduation.  Until recently, working in any capacity for any nonprofit was enough for one to quality.

But at the end of January, the Obama administration altered the rule by adding a new paragraph:

“Generally, the type or nature of employment with the organization does not matter for PSLF purposes. However, if you work for a non-profit organization, your employment will not qualify for PSLF if your job duties are related to religious instruction, worship services, or any form of proselytizing.” (emphasis added)

Get it?

What that means is that you can work as anything from an accountant to an activist for Planned Parenthood or the ACLU or Save the Whales and the rest of us subsidize your college education.  But now, if you train to be a missionary, priest, minister, rabbi or imam . . . or even teach religion in a sectarian school -- you're on your own.

Tells you a lot about the Obama administration's relentless hostility to religion.