Pubdate: Tue, 30 Jan 2001 Source: Reuters Copyright: 2001 Reuters Limited Author: Steve Holland Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment) BUSH ESTABLISHES FAITH-BASED OFFICE AT WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush established a White House office dedicated to encouraging religious organizations to seek billions in federal dollars for helping address alcoholism, drug addiction, homelessness and other social ills. By doing so, Bush drew the wrath of advocates of a strict separation between church and state. They warned they might file a legal challenge on grounds that it violates the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Appearing Monday with 35 religious leaders, Bush signed an executive order setting up the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. And he appointed University of Pennsylvania political science professor John DiIulio to head it. Secondly, Bush signed an executive order he said would clear away regulatory barriers ``that make private groups hesitate to work with government.'' He directed the departments of Justice, Housing and Urban Development, Health and Human Services, Labor and Education to open faith-based centers within 45 days to help eliminate regulatory and other obstacles to faith-based participation in providing social services. ``Government will never be replaced by charities and community groups. Yet when we see social needs in America, my administration will look first to faith-based programs and community groups, which have proven their power to save and change lives,'' Bush said. ``We will not fund the religious activities of any group, but when people of faith provide social services, we will not discriminate against them,'' he said. Bush said he would offer legislation on Tuesday to Congress to further his faith-based initiative. Break For Taxpayers This was expected to include extending to all taxpayers the federal charitable tax deduction, which allows people who itemize on their taxes to deduct money given to charity from their taxable income. The White House had no figure on the cost of Bush's proposals. During the presidential campaign Bush had proposed spending $23.9 billion over 10 years for compassionate causes. The idea behind Bush's focus is that there are some problems government cannot solve and to give money to organizations that are steeped in ways to address ills like substance abuse, alcoholism, homelessness and gang violence. Bush's action drew a swift response from groups like the Americans United for Separation of Church and State. ``We think it's a misguided public policy, and from a constitutional perspective, it's a nightmare,'' said a spokesman for the group, Steve Benen. ``It's creating a new government bureaucracy created to funnel tax dollars to religious institutions. It is merging church and state at an unprecedented level.'' He said the group might file suit against the plan on grounds it violates the strict constitutional separation between church and state. Laura Murphy, director of the Washington national office of the American Civil Liberties Union, said the plan raises civil rights question as well. She said, for example, there would be nothing to force a Jewish-run mental health program to treat members of other religions. Rabbi David Saperstein, director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, said: ``While constitutionally permissible in theory, in practice this office is woefully unwise. It signifies unprecedented government endorsement of religion.'' Asked about the criticism, Bush said: ``I am convinced that our plan is constitutional, because we will not fund a church or synagogue or mosque or any religion, but instead we'll be funding programs that affect people in a positive way.'' - --- MAP posted-by: GD