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Hoosier United Methodist News Archives
| Hoosier United Methodists together |
March 2004 |
Court ruling won't affect faith-based grants, official says
By Shanta Bryant Gyan
WASHINGTON (UMNS) -- A Supreme Court decision denying a state-funded scholarship to a student preparing to enter the ministry will not impact federal grants to religious service organizations serving the poor, according to a White House official.
Jim Towey, director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, said the Bush administration does not believe the Feb. 25 court decision will change the White House plan to allow more religious groups serving poor communities to receive federal funds to carry out social services, such as drug treatment programs and programs for the homeless.
He explained that the court ruling was based on a specific provision in the state of Washington's constitution that prohibits using public scholarships to finance religious training.
"Yesterday's case was so narrow in its scope," said Towey of the court ruling, during a Feb. 26 press conference call.
The Supreme Court ruled 7-2 that the State of Washington was within its rights to withdraw a scholarship awarded to Joshua Davey, who was seeking a degree in pastoral ministries. The Washington state constitution stipulates that students may not receive the tax-funded Promise Scholarship to pursue a devotional theology degree.
The court ruling raised widespread speculation that the decision may have implications for the Bush administration's newly created Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives.
Towey stressed that the faith-based initiative "stands on strong constitutional ground" and will continue providing federal money to religious social service organizations. The office was created in 2001 to expand the role of faith-based and community organizations in addressing social problems in the United States.
The government official said the U.S. Constitution permits an ongoing partnership between faith-based institutions and federal grant-making agencies, and the White House faith-based initiative office is "moving forward."
The denomination's policy on church-government relations and education states that people of a particular faith should use their own money to strengthen the belief system of their particular religious group, but not at the expense of taxpayers.
"They should not, however, expect all taxpayers, including those who adhere to other religious belief systems, to provide funds to teach religious views with which they do not agree," according to the policy, found in the denomination's 2000 Book of Resolutions.
Valentin-Castanon noted that the court's ruling does not preclude the state from providing scholarships to students attending religious institutions without the intention of becoming ministers.
Shanta Bryant Gyan is a freelance journalist based in the Washington area.
Last updated on 04/19/2004