Pubdate: Mon, 05 Feb 2001 Source: Santa Fe New Mexican (NM) Copyright: 2001 The Santa Fe New Mexican Contact: 202 E Marcy, Santa Fe, N.M. 87501 Fax: (505) 986-3040 Feedback: http://www.sfnewmexican.com/letterstoeditor/submitform.las Website: http://www.sfnewmexican.com/ Author: Deborah Davis, The New Mexican S.F. GROUPS WARY OF BUSH'S PLAN FOR FAITH-BASED CHARITY With wary optimism, Santa Fe social-service agencies are questioning the merits of a federal plan to attract more religious groups into providing social services. President George W. Bush outlined details last week of a proposal to expand aid to religious organizations that offer social services to their communities. Although the federal administration has not released any cost estimates, the main part of the president's plan will put religious groups on equal footing with other agencies that pursue billions of dollars in federal grants, according to a New York Times article last week. The reactions in Santa Fe are mixed: Some welcome any new funding to relieve the problems of poverty and hunger here; others worry that the proposal will take money away from other deserving organizations. "Are they expecting churches to pick up the load, to become a welfare agency? Because that kind of bothers me," said the Rev. Richard Murphy, rector at St. Bede's Episcopal Church. "If it's a partnership where church-based organizations can be a recipient of federal money to do what they do, that would be fine." Bush has said that he hopes more churches will take the lead in social service if the government provides seed money through a "compassion capital fund," according to Associated Press reports. Faith-based organizations are already involved in helping the poor if they want to be, said Hank Hughes, executive director of St. Elizabeth's, a nonfaith-based agency that helps the homeless. "My take is the government is trying to shirk its responsibility to take care of poor people," Hughes said. "It's everybody's responsibility, not just religious people." Besides that, churches are not necessarily designed to provide social services, Hughes said. "I think the thing that's missing from the debate is that the Bush administration - like a lot of conservative people - think the churches can do it better than the government or secular groups," Hughes said. "I don't think that's true. Anyone can do it if they have enough resources. The point is, we don't have enough resources." The majority of social-service agencies in Santa Fe are not faith-based, but there are a handful of religious organizations that reach out to the community through tutoring, food, housing and clothing for the poor. Of the 85 agencies that receive food from the Food Depot, about 20 are faith-based, according to Christiana Torricelli, executive director of the Food Depot. Although her organization would not be affected by Bush's proposal because it doesn't receive government funding, Torricelli is worried about the secular agencies that might be pushed out because religious groups are receiving more of the federal money. "What I'm afraid of is classifying a certain amount to faith-based groups is going to make a lot of charities question whether they should become faith-based," Torricelli said. Right now, she does not see any competition between faith-based and secular organizations. "I see it as a comfort level," she said. "Some people feel more comfortable going to their church or priest for help. Others feel better going to their neighborhood food bank. I don't think they should be put into a position where a service that was being provided to them is cut off due to lack of funding because another organization is faith-based." The Bush administration has assured the public that government agencies will make sure there is a secular alternative to any services provided by a religious group, according to reports this week. Social-service agencies should be very careful to not impose their own religious beliefs as a requirement for service, cautioned Gregory Kepferle, executive director of Catholic Charities in Santa Fe. He said some people may not be ready for a spiritual component to a program or some may be of a different faith. "That's a dangerous way to use religion - you need to believe as we do before we'll house you or feed you," Kepferle said. "We're not called to shelter the homeless only if they pray to our God. We're called regardless of who they are." In some ways, Bush's proposal may not change anything for social services in Santa Fe, Kepferle said. "For many decades, the government has funded faith-based organizations, but they've been doing it in a way so it's at arm's length from a religious institution," Kepferle said. For example, Catholic Charities - while supported by the Catholic church - is separately incorporated. "What's wonderful about that is the government is able to fulfill our mission without us losing our values and the government getting involved in religious affairs," Kepferle said. Despite some misgivings, everyone has embraced the portion of the president's plan that allows taxpayers who do not itemize to claim a deduction for contributions to charitable organizations. "If they're allowed to get a tax break, hopefully it will encourage them to donate more to charities," Kepferle said. Regardless of funding for social services, such organizations as Kitchen Angels and the Boys & Girls Club prove that Santa Fe has a plethora of services available to people in need. "I think there's a genuine charitable spirit in Santa Fe," Torricelli said. "This town is a wonderful community because it really pulls itself together to serve disenfranchised people. There's a viable safety net happening, but it's a very delicate balance." - --- MAP posted-by: Beth