trusted online casino malaysia
Realizing the presence, promise, and power of the Kingdom of God.
ReVision

Both Ways

Should faith-based ministries be allowed to hire whomever they will?

Many in the conservative Christian community have been applauding the efforts of some members of Congress to discontinue funding for Planned Parenthood. I agree with that view and encourage Congress to stay the course on this decision.

If their cause is worthy, the argument goes, let them raise the money to pay for it themselves. But we should not use taxpayer dollars to fund abortion.

Now, however, President Obama is considering repealing a decade-old policy of allowing faith-based organizations to receive taxpayer dollars and, at the same time, to use religion as a criterion in hiring. As USAToday reported Sunday, a group of clergy and lawmakers wants to discontinue this practice on the grounds that federal funds should not be used to discriminate in hiring ("Critics push Obama to change faith-based hiring rules," Lauren Markoe, 6/26/11). The President has promised to change the policy, and critics are urging him to do it now.

Conservative religious groups are, of course, concerned. The paper quotes Michele Combs, a spokeswoman for the Christian Coalition, as declaring her group's intention to fight this change of policy, "saying charitable organizations should have the right to employ those who share their groups' values."

And I agree. They should be allowed to hire whomever they will. But not using taxpayer money. Faith-based ministries can't have it both ways. They can't rejoice at the plight of Planned Parenthood and get in a snit over their own.

The snare of the federal purse is about to tighten around those Christian groups which have taken the money and become used to it, but still want to hire only from within the ranks of the faithful. Either they're going to have to open their hiring policies, and risk compromising their distinctives, or they're going to have to give up the federal money and cut back their ministries.

Or, if their ministries are that important, let them go out and find the funding they need apart from the federal purse.

It may well be a Christian ministry's "freedom...to hire and fire people of our faith," as Ms. Combs insisted, but when Christian organizations take federal money, sooner or later that's going to impact the way they do business. And sooner seems the likelier scenario.

Conservative Christians have long railed against government involvement with the poor, except, of course, when government was willing to provide them the money to do the job for them. Now the prospect of that spigot's closing seems very real, and the harumphing of conservative spokespersons strikes me as rather pathetic, if not embarrassing.

It is hypocritical for conservative Christians to gloat over Planned Parenthood's (rightful) plight while we continue to insist on our own right, all our privileges and values intact, for a place at the federal trough.

Additional related texts: Acts 4.32-37; Ephesians 4.28; Romans 13.7, 8

A conversation starter: "Do you think faith-based organizations which receive federal money should be required to follow federal policies in hiring and firing?"

T. M. Moore

T.M. Moore

T. M. Moore is principal of The Fellowship of Ailbe, a spiritual fellowship in the Celtic Christian tradition. He and his wife, Susie, make their home in the Champlain Valley of Vermont.
Books by T. M. Moore

Subscribe to Ailbe Newsletters

Sign up to receive our email newsletters and read columns about revival, renewal, and awakening built upon prayer, sharing, and mutual edification.