Ummm I think the other thing that Bush did, was allow these groups to discriminate in hiring and possibly funding. So they were allowed to not hire those outside their faith. Check me, but I'm pretty sure.
"Faith Based" Government Assistance & Jehovah's Witnesses
by minimus 41 Replies latest jw friends
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purplesofa
Well whether Bush allowed these groups to discriminate or not, they can and do discriminate, I was just reading a blog about it. I will see if I can find it, but leaving in a few minutes so it might be a bit later before I find it,
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skeeter1
Obama's Faith Based Government reminded me of the French government handling of religion.
In his speech, (I don't have a copy), Obama played to the mainstream religions, but carved out an exception for radical, fundamentalism. Skeeter is beginning to like Obama!
Anyway, I found this off the US Department of State. It summarizes France's government on religion.
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France's Freedom of Religion
The Constitution provides for freedom of religion, and the Government generally respects this right; however, the Government took some actions during the year that affected religious minorities that it considers to be "cults". The 1905 law on separation of church and state--the foundation of existing legislation on religious freedom--makes it illegal to discriminate on the basis of faith.
Religious groups may register as "associations cultuelles" (associations of worship) or as "associations culturelles" (cultural associations); religious groups normally register in both of these categories. Associations in these two categories are subject to certain management and financial disclosure requirements. An association of worship is exempt from taxes but can organize only religious activities; it may not operate a school, print publications, or employ a board president. A cultural association is a type of for-profit association whose goal is to promote the culture of a certain group; although not exempt from taxes, it may receive government subsidies for its cultural and educational operations (such as schools). Religious groups must apply with the local prefecture to be recognized as an association of worship and therefore receive tax-exempt status under the 1905 statute.
For historical reasons, the Jewish, Lutheran, Reformed (Protestant), and Roman Catholic religions in three departments of Alsace and Lorraine enjoy special legal status. Adherents of these four religions may choose to have a portion of their income tax allocated to their church in a system administered by the central Government.
The Government has encouraged public caution toward some minority religious groups that it may consider to be cults. In 1995 the National Assembly formed a parliamentary commission to study so-called cults, which issued a report in 1996 that identified 173 groups as cults, including Jehovah's Witnesses, the Theological Institute of Nimes (an evangelical Christian Bible college), and the Church of Scientology. The Government has not banned any of the groups on the list; however, members of some of the groups listed have alleged that there were instances of intolerance due to the ensuing publicity. The Government's "Interministerial Mission in the Fight Against Sects/Cults" (MILS) is responsible for coordinating periodic interministerial meetings at which government officials can exchange information on cults and coordinate their actions. Although the Government instructed the MILS to analyze "the phenomenon of cults," its decree did not define the term cult or distinguish cults from religions.
On June 14, a private bill (known as the About-Picard Bill) that tightens restrictions on organizations was enacted into law. The legislation provides for the dissolution by judicial decision of any legal entity (including a religious association) that had been the subject of "several" criminal judgments. The About-Picard law does not define cults. Articles of the legislation list criminal activities for which a religious association (or other legal entity) would be subject to dissolution, including: Endangering life or the physical/psychological well-being of a person; placing minors at mortal risk; violation of another person's freedom, dignity, or identity; the illegal practice of medicine or pharmacology; false advertising; and fraud or falsifications. Associations, which are recognized as public utilities that defend or aid an individual or a collective entity against a person or organization that is characterized as having the goal or the effect of creating or exploiting a psychological or physical dependence, have standing in such judicial proceedings.
The law also reinforces existing provisions of the Penal Code by adding language covering the exploitation of the "psychological or physical subjection" or "fraudulent abuse of a state of ignorance or weakness." Leaders of the four major religions, such as the president of the French Protestant Federation and the president of the Conference of Bishops in France, raised concerns about the legislation. By year's end, this legislation had had no reported impact on religious freedom, nor had any cases been brought under the new law.
Some observers are concerned about the scrutiny with which tax authorities have examined the financial records of some religious groups. The Government does not recognize all branches of Jehovah's Witnesses or the Church of Scientology as qualifying religious associations for tax purposes and therefore subjects them to a 60 percent tax on all funds they receive. In June 2000, the Conseil d'Etat decided that 2 branches of the 11 branches of Jehovah's Witnesses could be recognized as religious associations under the law and thus be exonerated from certain tax obligations. In July 2000, a Nanterre court decided against the French Association of Jehovah's Witnesses, ruling that Jehovah's Witnesses would have to pay over $42 million (300 million FF) in back taxes to the fiscal authorities. As a result of the ruling, tax authorities began proceedings to collect the taxes in the same month Jehovah's Witnesses appealed the Nanterre court's decision to the Versailles Court of Appeals. The appeal and related collection proceedings were pending at year's end.
Local authorities often determine the treatment of religious minorities. The Association of the Triumphant Vajra was involved in a dispute with local officials over a statue of the Association's guru that allegedly was erected without a permit. In June 2000, the Court of Cassation upheld a lower court order, and the statue was demolished on September 6.
In April the press reported that software produced by Panda International was authored by a Scientologist. Panda claimed that critical statements by government officials linking the product to Scientology caused a significant loss of business (see Section 5).
Some religious minorities have experienced problems with the wearing of special religious clothing. Various courts and government bodies have considered whether denying some Muslim girls the right to wear headscarves in public schools constituted a violation of the right to practice their religion; there has been no definitive national decision on the issue. In May 2000, the Administrative Court in Nantes ruled in favor of a Muslim woman who was refused naturalization because she wore a veil during her final interview (see Section 5).
The State subsidizes private schools, including those that are affiliated with churches. Central or local governments also own and provide upkeep for other religious buildings constructed before 1905, the date of the law separating church and state.
d. Freedom of Movement within the Country, Foreign Travel, Emigration, and Repatriation
The law provides for these rights, and the Government generally respects them.
The law provides for the granting of refugee and asylee status in accordance with the provisions of the 1951 U.N. Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol. The Government provides first asylum. In 2000 the Government received 38,777 requests for asylum and issued 5,185 refugee certificates (a document issued to successful asylum applicants). In March a group of Roma asylum seekers from Hungary were granted asylum in Strasbourg. The Government generally cooperates with the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees and other humanitarian organizations in assisting refugees.
There were no reports of the forced return of persons to a country where they feared persecution.
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BizzyBee
Do they fund rehabilition programs too?
Yes, through Dept of Health and Human Services they administer funding for SAMHSA - Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
Discriminatory hiring:
EEOC prohibits discrimination in hiring on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or age. (Look at the poster in your lunchroom at work.) Most government grants I've worked on include binding declarations that your agency adheres to EEOC guidelines (as all employers must) as well as insuring that you've engaged in no lobbying activities.
Though it is illegal and punishable, discrimination still happens, of course, but most non-profits are even more cautious than private sector employers, because often their bread and butter is government money, and they come under intense scrutiny.
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WTWizard
Oh! Owe!
As if bailing out banks so they can deliberately delay posting a cash deposit 4-6 months until you get negative balances and they can hit you with $5,000 fees wasn't bad enough, now they are going to spend MY tax dollars promoting religions! This has to be the absolute worst waste of money I can think of--at this rate, they are going to just let the churches run the country, and we will all be right back into the Second Dark Ages. And the people will never again be allowed to do a f***ing thing about it.
I would rather have the money support secularized charities. The Red Cross and Salvation Army, to the extent that they provide relief to those who have fallen into hard times, are prime examples of this. But we need religion about as much as we need to have Mars rammed into the earth.
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BizzyBee
Jeebus H. Christ!
Wizard - do you read any of this before you post?
THIS IS NOT ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIZING RELIGION!
I would rather have the money support secularized charities. The Red Cross and Salvation Army
Two examples of "faith-based" charities. Along with the YMCA, etc. Hello and wake up...............
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BizzyBee
Catholic Charities are a privately funded affair.
No. No. And no. Catholic Charities receives a great deal of government money in addition to private dollars. As do most NGO's (non-profits).
Y'all are demonizing a system that actually works quite well, with a lot of checks and balances, accountability and oversight. If all government agencies and personnel were scrutinized like this, we'd all be way better off.
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truthsetsonefree
Back to the topic....Of course WT doesn't look for this assistance. It's being too part of the "world". They don't do anything for the community that a group would need to do to qualify anyway. Plus they wouldn't want to be obliged to hire any homosexuals as can happen in these programs.
Isaac
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minimus
I still wonder whether WT. has any involvement (like they did with the UN).
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BurnTheShips
No. No. And no. Catholic Charities receives a great deal of government money in addition to private dollars. As do most NGO's (non-profits).
I stand corrected BB. Sorry.
BTS