"Obama can't have it both ways on faith-based hiring"

Denver Post Opinion - Jim Towey

Towey was director of the White House Office of Faith-based and Community Initiatives from 2002-06.

He complains that while Barack Obama would continue the federal "faith-based" initiative program, Obama would not give the federal money to any group that discriminated in hiring. For example, if a Catholic charity refused to hire someone that advocated for abortion, Obama would not let that charity have any federal money.

I have a better idea. Don't give any charity any federal money.

There is no moral value in forcibly taking tax money from a person and giving it to a private charity. None.

There is moral value in making a voluntary donation.

Cut the government out of the equation. Let people keep their money and decide what to do with it. If any given charity can not function without tax money, it does not deserve to function.

Charities have existed for centuries without government largesse. It is a sad commentary on the Republican Party (not so sad for the Democrats, because it is expected from them) that it thinks a government program is necessary to assist charities.

Alas, it is just another example of how the Republicans have abandoned all pretense of any belief in smaller government and individual freedom.

Towey points out that

Obama visited Pastor Rick Warren's Saddleback Church in California last weekend, a Southern Baptist organization on the front lines of helping individuals in need at home and around the globe. Saddleback would rather disband than submit to governmental approval on hiring.

That entire premise is absurd. Saddleback is a hugely successful mega-church. How did it get that way? By voluntary donations of time and money. It needs tax money like Al Gore needs a bigger house.

Sure, they will take it.

But if Saddleback stopped getting tax money, its good works would continue without a hiccup.

Towey says "Either religious charities are going to be treated fairly by government or they aren't." I agree.

Government should have no say in what work charities do or whom they hire. Nor should the government fund them.

All charities should be treated exactly the same by government: ignored. And left alone.