Faith-Based Office Remains Open, Expands
It probably won't be the last disappointing surprise as we see our new President in action, but I think we should talk about this one some. Besides, we haven't had a heated argument here in a few hours, so...
Not only has President Obama decided to keep the White House's Faith-Based Initiatives office open, he's putting a Pentecostal minister in charge of it:
Today Obama also officially named a 26-year-old Pentecostal minister to head the White's House's new faith-based office. Josh DuBois previously directed religious outreach for the Obama campaign. While it is possible BuBois' positions on social issues may deviate from those of his church, Pentecostals are generally right-wing. They are bible literalists, therefore they are almost all antigay rights and antiabortion. DuBois belongs to the same tradition that made Sarah Palin's religious views notorious. Pentecostals are the "noisy" fundamentalists who believe in the "gifts of the spirit": speaking in tongues, faith healing, prophecy, discernment of spirit (exorcism). Normally the private religious views of White House staff would be off limits. DuBois' extremist religious views have become relevant by his elevation to an office at the White House to promote faith and funding of faith-based social services.
Betsy and James, I want to apologize upfront if this topic offends anybody or generates any offensive commentary. But if we kid-glove this thing after (justifiably) raking Palin over the coals for her Pentecostal leanings, I believe we would be doing a disservice to the idea of change that we're all hoping for.
BlueNC is dedicated to making North Carolina a more progressive and prosperous state. If your intention is to disrupt this effort, please find somewhere else to express your opinions.
Like?
I was not in support of the
I was not in support of the Bush office because they clearly abused the office by dolling money out to supporters. From what I can gather, the Obama office will not give money to organizations which stipulates employees must be from the same faith group. In the way I imagine the Obama office operating is giving money and support to a variety of programs which are not primarily Christian (I'm sure the Bush Administration did not support many non-Christian organizations) and thus does not breach the first amendment. The office would not be establishing nor endorsing one and is not preventing free exercise of religion.
Church of the FSM should be ready to apply
I want gummint money to celebrate International Talk Like a Pirate Day. It's just as legit as any cult developed in the last 300 years.
Ready and enjoy how a regular guy from the heartland blew up the American Taliban's arguments with the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster.
Pastafarians, unite!
That's classic. I can really get behind commandments like this:
As I said over on the gay marriage thread
the separation between church and state should be bright and clear. The government has no business being in the business of faith-based anything.
On second thought, I hereby declare The Sweet Spot a religion. I shall now turn to Washington for funding.
I agree
It was a bad idea in the first place, and just because we have a more enlightened President now it doesn't change that basic fact. I'm afraid Obama is looking at some of these Bush programs and thinking, "I can do this the right way."
Some things should not be contemplated from that point of view, and this is one of them.