Keeping the Faith

-- Family Research Council (8/8/05)

Some faith-based groups receiving aid from Florida Governor Jeb Bush's Faith-Based and Community Advisory Board are coming under fire by the atheistic Council for Secular Humanism (CSH). A lawsuit was filed last Friday in Florida by CSH seeking to stop any taxpayer monies going to faith-based groups that help the poor, underprivileged, drug addicted and any other needy individuals that CSH seems to believe don't need all the help they can get. Governor Bush set up the faith-based advisory group in 2002 to expand the role of faith-based and community groups in delivering social services formerly handled by state agencies. Nationwide studies have shown religious and community groups have much higher success rates in helping those in our society who need it most. Government does not have the resources nor is it in its power to many life-changing services to the poor and afflicted. However, as the Greek philosopher Plato wrote, "We are twice armed if we fight with faith." Researching the "Humanist" website www.secularhumanism.org, I found numerous links and advocacy for stopping President Bush's faith-based initiatives alongside blocking his judicial nominees, yet very few, if any, resources to help fatherless children, single parents, drug addicted individuals, etc. CSH appears to prefer the role of blocking solutions to that of providing them.