Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Toto · 05-21-2003, 06:10 PM

The claims of proponents of faith-based funding, or "charitable choice", are that non-governmental charities are more efficient in providing social services. A recent study by Indiana University has shown that this is not so.

SOME RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS NOT AS EFFECTIVE IN PROVIDING SOCIAL SERVICES

Quote:

"Charitable Choice: First Results from Three States," interim findings of "Faith-Based Social Service Provision Under Charitable Choice: A Study of Implementation in Three States," comes on the heels of heated debate over whether smaller, grassroots, faith-based organizations should be recruited to join more established religious organizations in tapping into government grants and contracts. President Bush recently enacted much of his faith-based initiative through regulatory orders after legislative versions failed in Congress.

. . .

The study also shows that congregational leaders who are encouraged to bid for government contracts need constitutional instruction if the programs are to be conducted in a constitutionally appropriate fashion. A survey performed in one city in Indiana shows that 67 percent of congregation leaders in the city did not know that tax dollars can�t pay for religious activities, such as prayer and bible study.

GaryP · 05-21-2003, 07:24 PM

Thanks, Toto.

I was watching Jim Towey of the Faith -Based office on c-Span the other day and he made that claim often.

It would be nice if this type of story gets some wide play in the media, but I seriously doubt that it will.

Here in Ohio, I have seen many editorials and letters which were making the point that the voucher schools in Cleveland and Catholic schools in general just plain educate kids better.

Ohio contracted with Indiana U.'s College of Education to study how the voucher school kids test scores compared with their public school counterparts.

Apparently, for the first 5 years or so, the voucher schools had a very slight advantage in scores. But the prof at IU keeps saying that it is not a significant difference.

And , IMO, considering that the voucher school students have such active parental involvement, one would think there WOULD be a significant difference.

Yet, this info gets very little notice in the newspapers that I have seen here in Central OH.

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05-21-2003, 07:24 PM	#2
GaryP Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Lancaster, OH Posts: 1,792	Thanks, Toto. I was watching Jim Towey of the Faith -Based office on c-Span the other day and he made that claim often. It would be nice if this type of story gets some wide play in the media, but I seriously doubt that it will. Here in Ohio, I have seen many editorials and letters which were making the point that the voucher schools in Cleveland and Catholic schools in general just plain educate kids better. Ohio contracted with Indiana U.'s College of Education to study how the voucher school kids test scores compared with their public school counterparts. Apparently, for the first 5 years or so, the voucher schools had a very slight advantage in scores. But the prof at IU keeps saying that it is not a significant difference. And , IMO, considering that the voucher school students have such active parental involvement, one would think there WOULD be a significant difference. Yet, this info gets very little notice in the newspapers that I have seen here in Central OH.

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