Freethought & Rationalism Archive

crazyfingers · 01-13-2003, 09:39 AM

Quote:

NORTHAMPTON - At the same time the US Department of Veterans Affairs told one of the state's largest homeless shelters it would lose money for nearly half its beds, veterans officials made an unprecedented announcement. In a press release, the department touted that of 53 homeless programs it awarded grants to this year, 40 percent were religious groups.

Though the department maintains the grant process is free of political bias, officials at the United Veterans of America shelter here don't think it's a coincidence that so many of the awards went to faith-based organizations promoted by the Bush administration.

''We feel there wasn't a fair playing field in the grant process - and it's clear that points were given to faith-based groups,'' said Steven Como, a spokesman for United Veterans, which sought an additional 60 beds this year to cover its waiting list.

* snip *

At the Open Door Ministries of High Point, N.C., which won a three-year grant worth about $90,000 to house homeless veterans, administrators say ''national trends'' worked in their favor.

''The president has certainly made his position clear about faith-based organizations,'' said Bruce Burch, the group's transitional housing director. ''Also, I was told by a VA official we probably had a good chance because we're faith-based.''

At Catholic Community Services of Utah, which includes optional Bible study classes in its substance-abuse program, officials say they won a three-year, $207,000 grant because of the efficacy of their treatment. But they also acknowledge, given the competition, that they probably benefited from the new box on the department's application.

''It certainly didn't hurt us,'' said clinical director Brian Currie. ''Usually, in grant applications, the more boxes you can check, the more favorable it is to you. They're usually looking for what they ask, or they wouldn't ask it in the first place.''

So according to these people, the government is favoring faith based programs over those that are not faith based.

Boston Globe

Feather · 01-13-2003, 12:07 PM

This comes as a great shock to me. I would never have guessed this might happen.

:banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

Ah well. So much for freedrom from religion. It's just a matter of a short amount of time, now, I guess. Gawds, when is a challenge to this going to show up in court?

Shake · 01-14-2003, 10:31 AM

... and as you know if you've been on these boards long enough, there most certainly ARE atheists in foxholes!!!

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01-13-2003, 12:07 PM	#2
Feather Veteran Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Gainesville, FL Posts: 1,827	This comes as a great shock to me. I would never have guessed this might happen. :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: Ah well. So much for freedrom from religion. It's just a matter of a short amount of time, now, I guess. Gawds, when is a challenge to this going to show up in court?

01-14-2003, 10:31 AM	#3
Shake Contributor Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Folding@Home in upstate NY Posts: 14,394	... and as you know if you've been on these boards long enough, there most certainly ARE atheists in foxholes!!!

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