|
| |
| Americans United for Separation of
Church and State calls for action on "Charitable Choice"
proposal in House of Representatives
Alert Date: July 3, 2001
[published here on 7-7-01]
Action: Call your Representative and urge him or her to
oppose H.R. 7, the Community Solutions Act, if it contains so-called
"Charitable Choice." Contact your Representative today:
Capitol Switchboard: 202/224-3121 House Website: http://www.house.gov
Action Plan: In the coming weeks, the U.S. House of
Representatives will be voting on the "Charitable Choice"
expansion bill, H.R. 7, the Community Solutions Act. "Charitable
Choice" would explicitly allow federally funded employment
discrimination, lead to the proselytization of people seeking aid, and
authorize new lawsuits against the government by religious organizations
denied federal funding. It is an unnecessary and unconstitutional
proposal that would harm religious liberty, turn back the clock on civil
rights and burden local government with lawsuits.
However, H.R. 7 is more than "Charitable Choice." Aside from
the "Charitable Choice" section, H.R. 7 is a good tax package
that will be a bipartisan accomplishment for Congress and the President.
This act contains a combination of provisions that would provide tax
incentives to increase charitable giving, yet it will also extend
federal funding opportunities for religious congregations that wish to
mix social service with religious activity, unconstitutionally blurring
the line between separation of church and state.
The message to your Representative in Congress should be that you, as a
constituent, oppose H.R. 7''s "Charitable Choice" provision
because:
 | 78% of Americans oppose allowing government funded
religious groups to only hire people of the same faith (Pew Forum on
Religion and Public Life poll, conducted among 2,041 adults
including an over sample of African Americans, March 5-18. Margin of
error equals plus or minus 2.5 points) Trouble is, this is the main
plank of the president''s "Charitable Choice" proposal. |
| "Charitable Choice" is highly
controversial and divisive -- so troublesome that the Senate bill
(S. 592) did not include the "Charitable Choice" section.
|
| "Charitable Choice" erodes regulatory
protections in federally funded programs because houses of worship
are exempt from certain accreditation standards, safety standards,
licensing laws, and other regulatory mechanisms that protect
beneficiaries and ensure quality service delivery.
|
| The "Charitable Choice" provisions of
H.R. 7 would explicitly allow federally funded employment
discrimination, lead to the proselytization of people seeking aid,
and authorize new lawsuits against the government by religious
organizations denied federal funding. It is an unnecessary and
unconstitutional proposal that would harm religious liberty, turn
back the clock on civil rights and burden local government with
lawsuits. |
For information on H.R. 7, follow this link http://www.au.org/charchoice107.htm
For more information on "Charitable Choice,"
visit our website at http://www.au.org
Contact your Representative today: Capitol Switchboard: 202/224-3121
House Website: http://www.house.gov |
| |
|
Visit
our lively
new website! |
|
GA actions
ratified (or not) by the presbyteries
A number of the most important actions of the 219th
General Assembly have now been acted upon by the presbyteries,
confirming most of them as amendments to the PC(USA) Book of Order.
We provided resources to help inform the
reflection and debate, along with updates on the voting.
Our three areas of primary interest have been:
|
Amendment 10-A,
which removes the current ban on
lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender persons being considered as
possible candidates for ordination as elder or ministers.
Approved! |
|
Amendment 10-2,
which would add the Belhar Confession to our Book of
Confessions. Disapproved, because as an amendment
to the Book of Confessions it needed a 2/3 vote, and did not
receive that. |
|
Amendment
10-1, which adopts the new Form of Government
that was approved by the Assembly. Approved. |
|
| |
|
If you like what
you find here,
we hope you'll help us keep Voices for Justice going ... and
growing!
Please consider making a special
contribution -- large or small -- to help us continue and improve
this service.
Click here to send a
gift online, using your credit card, through PayPal.
Or send your check, made
out to "Presbyterian Voices for Justice" and marked "web site," to
our PVJ Treasurer:
Darcy Hawk
4007 Gibsonia Road
Gibsonia, PA 15044-8312 |
| |
|
Some blogs worth visiting |
|
PVJ's
Facebook page
Mitch Trigger, PVJ's
Secretary/Communicator, has created a Facebook page where
Witherspoon members and others can gather to exchange news and
views. Mitch and a few others have posted bits of news, both
personal and organizational. But there’s room for more!
You can post your own news and views,
or initiate a conversation about a topic of interest to you. |
| |
|
Voices of Sophia blog
Heather Reichgott, who has created
this new blog for Voices of Sophia, introduces it:
After fifteen years of scholarship
and activism, Voices of Sophia presents a blog. Here, we present the
voices of feminist theologians of all stripes: scholars, clergy,
students, exiles, missionaries, workers, thinkers, artists, lovers
and devotees, from many parts of the world, all children of the God
in whose image women are made. .... This blog seeks to glorify God
through prayer, work, art, and intellectual reflection. Through
articles and ensuing discussion we hope to become an active and
thoughtful community. |
| |
|
John Harris’ Summit to
Shore blogspot
Theological and philosophical
reflections on everything between summit to shore, including
kayaking, climbing, religion, spirituality, philosophy, theology,
politics, culture, travel, The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), New
York City and the Queens neighborhood of Ridgewood by a progressive
New York City Presbyterian Pastor. John is a former member of the
Witherspoon board, and is designated pastor of North Presbyterian
Church in Flushing, NY. |
| |
|
John Shuck’s Shuck and Jive
A Presbyterian minister, currently
serving as pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Elizabethton,
Tenn., blogs about spirituality, culture, religion (both organized
and disorganized), life, evolution, literature, Jesus, and
lightening up. |
| |
|
Got more blogs to recommend?
Please
send a note, and we'll see what we can do! |
| |
|
