Constitution again, thank Spirit!
Gaddy is an ordained Baptist minister, who currently heads the progressively-minded Interfaith Alliance, and who hosts a show on Air America called "State of Belief." He is a past president of Americans United for Separation of Church and State.
**Quote**
"The election of Congressman Boehner to be majority leader has the potential to be a disaster for the religious liberties of all Americans," Rev. Welton Gaddy, president of The Interfaith Alliance (TIA), declared.
Boehner, who represents Ohio's 8th District, was elected Feb. 2 as majority leader. He defeated two other candidates, including acting Majority Leader Roy Blunt of Missouri.
Gaddy told Cybercast News Service that "Congressman Boehner would use the machinery of the federal government to impose religion on people turning to the government for basic services.
"That's a violation of the Constitution and it is a serious compromise of religious liberty," Gaddy said.
**Endquote**
I got the quote from CNSNews; they are a conservative website, who I'm sure disagrees with Gaddy.
http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewPolitics.asp?Page=\Politics\archive\200602\POL20060207a.html
(link doesn't seem to work well)
Gaddy is protesting giving federal money to "faith-based" organizations, given the current context, and commenting on Boehner being made majority leader, taking into consideration Boehner's past political positions.
I agree with Gaddy that, although these religious organizations who receive federal money are supposed to keep their public-program arm secular, they frequently do not. When I was a social worker, some of my clients were helped, but that help always came with a price. They were "encouraged" by their helpers to "get saved" and "go to our church," in violation of the law and program constraints. One time an organization had gotten my client to turn over her aid check, to "manage it" for her, and refused to give the money back. It was given back to my client after I had a nice, helpful-to-all chat with the program administrator.
Anyway, go Gaddy! To learn more about Rev. Gaddy, go to:
www.stateofbelief.com .