Faith-based initiatives …

Christian Century, Feb 8, 2003 by John Wimberly

HEIDI ROLLAND UNRUH'S article on faith-based initiatives paints a rosy picture regarding the future of this Republican legislative obsession ("Choosing partners," Dec. 4-17). Let me tell you about its past. In Washington, D.C., the local government has given money to religious groups for years to run various programs. Watching this for over 20 years, I have noticed that the churches receiving funds from the district government become mysteriously silent when the government or the mayor does something that is clearly wrong. Why do they go silent? They are worried that they will lose their funding.

If we allow government funding of programs related to religious institutions, the religious institutions will be compromised and co-opted. Perhaps this is why some politicians push the idea so vigorously. Won't their lives be easier if they can manipulate all of us with strings tied to the funding of our programs?

John Wimberly
Western Presbyterian Church,
Washington, D.C.