“Even with the caveat that taxpayer dollars be earmarked for that portion of the religious institution where secular social services are provided, the Administration’s plan would significantly expand the President’s constitutionally suspect faith-based initiative,” said Jeffrey Sinensky, general counsel for the American Jewish Committee.

            “While the Administration’s faith-based initiative is aimed at ending alleged discrimination against religious institutions, this proposal actually would allow, for the first time, government funding of the ‘bricks and mortar’ construction costs of religious institutions in violation of the constitutionally mandated separation of church and state.”

The American Jewish Committee recognizes the valuable role religious institutions play in providing much-needed social services and the benefits that flow from the partnership between government and the private sector. 

But, the Administration’s faith-based initiatives pose significant dangers, not least of which is that religious institutions may discriminate when hiring staff paid for with public monies.  Moreover, the new plan to use federal housing funds will require significant government monitoring to ensure that public dollars are not diverted to construct facilities to be used for religious purposes.

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