Challenge to Faith Based Initiative Reinstated

[Soldier4Christ]

Challenge to Faith Based Initiative Reinstated
Thursday, January 26, 2006

Written By A. Urti

A three-judge panel of the Seventh U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that the Freedom From Religion Foundation can sue the federal government over an alleged breach of separation of church and state caused by President Bush’s faith-based initiative program.

In its ruling, the panel overturned a 2004 decision by a federal judge in Madison, Wisconsin, who said that the atheistic organization did not have standing to bring such a lawsuit.

In essence, Freedom from Religion is arguing that the federal government cannot give grants to religious groups to provide social services to the community. One may rightfully wonder how much social service work would be done if it weren’t for the religious groups in this nation.

On a wider theme, the lone dissent, by Judge Kenneth Ripple, said that the majority ruling “makes virtually any executive action subject to taxpayer suit.”

Legal Expert Ponders Case From Afar

George Washington University law professor Ira C. Lupu, closely tracking the case for a policy group, believes that the Freedom From Religion Foundation is going to have a tough time winning their case.

“The case has been brought back to life, but I think it’s going to be rather difficult for the Freedom from Religion Foundation to prevail. My guess is that no government official gets up at those conferences and says something about the Gospel of Jesus Christ being the truth,” reasoned Lupu, attempting to point out that support for faith-based initiatives does not constitute a government endorsement of religion.

Faith-Based Initiatives Do Much Good Work

In the wake of natural disasters such as hurricanes Katrina and Wilma, it was faith-based organizations that traveled to the area to provide relief to the victims. Samaritan’s Purse, Operation Blessing, Catholic Charities, the North American Mission Board, and the Salvation Army are just a few of the many organizations that lent financial, material, and spiritual aid in the nation’s time of need.

Take Action!

Pray for continued government support of these faith-based organizations which meet real needs in our nation.