It's a virus, religion creep in this country's government. In the last fifty plus years, say shortly after my birth in 1956, when the inaccurate, at best, "in god we trust" motto was adopted, the "holy virus" has rapidly spread to so many vital organs of our government. And now we desperately need a vaccine before the theocracy devours the Establishment clause.
Below is my latest rant against religious entanglement with our secular government--Faith Base Organizations subsidized by my (and your) taxes. Complements of what I understood was to be "the second coming," George W. Bush--NOT! I posted a comment to the Federal Register with my concerns, where you too can make a public opinion comment by clicking on the green button...(continued below).
In regard to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) rule changes, implementing Executive Order 13559 regulation of faith-based organizations (FBOs), I see only a violation of the establishment clause. This is a President’s personal belief system injected into secular government to provide subsidy to FBOs. Under 22 C.F.R Sec. 205 my taxes go to promoting religion. FBO provided aid, subsidized by the government, is simply another diversion of government funds to religion, not unlike school voucher legislation and exclusive tax code privileges to religion.
FBOs administrated by USAID have no real and verifiable use of funds or activities—a religious privilege and a blind-eye approach are unacceptable. Is an FBO required to provide assistance not in agreement with their religious beliefs, especially were the FBO is the only reasonably available provider? The same as a Christian County Clerk refusing to perform her secular job requirements, FBOs are restricted in what they provide in aid to others by their “faith”. FBOs therefore will not treat all—say the gay—equally under the law. Therefore their beliefs cannot be government subsidized.
The sole purpose, the very genesis of religion, is to promote religious beliefs. FBO motivated aid is a sectarian statement to this effect; “Look at what ‘our’ religious sect is doing, and has done for you.” This is proselytizing, and NO rule made by USAID will negate that. You are funding sectarian religious charitable bents with my taxes. Whereas, nothing prevents the religious from working with, under, and supporting secularly administered government aid programs—less it were because of their sincerely held religious beliefs. Stop entangling religion with our governments’ aid programs.