Rep. Scott Probes Top Administration Officials on Hiring Discrimination in the Faith-Based Initiativ

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Source: Americans United for Separation of Church and State
May 12, 2011
Nate Hennagin


Last Tuesday, the House Judiciary Committee held a hearing titled "Oversight Hearing on the Department of Justice," at which Attorney General Eric Holder was the sole witness. Committee members questioned him on the actions of the Department of Justice, ranging from homeland security and interrogation techniques, to gun control.

But one member in particular, Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA), questioned Holder on an issue that doesn’t get a lot of press these days—the Faith-Based Initiative. As AU has often reported, we have been extremely disappointed that the Obama Administration has done nothing to overturn the Bush Administration policies that permit religious organizations to discriminate in hiring on the basis of religion even when the positions are funded with taxpayer money. Rep. Scott, after alluding to then-candidate Obama’s 2008 speech in Zanesville, OH opposing federally funded religious hiring discrimination, asked Holder:

"Is it possible in this administration today for someone to apply for a federal grant and articulate an intention to discriminate against people of people of particular religions? For example, you know, they don't want to hire Catholics, Jews and Muslims, would they be entitled to a lot…of federal programs?"

Holder answered that the Administration doesn't "want to be in a position where people are in fact getting federal grants and discriminating." He followed up explaining that the Administration "don't want to do that. We try not to do that" and that "he attempt we make is not to do that." He didn’t admit, however, that the answer is yes—current policy permits federally funded religious discrimination.

LINK: http://www.au.org/what-we-do/legislative/legislative-blog/archives/2011/05/rep-scott-probes-top-administration-officials-on-hiring-discrimination-in-the-faith-based-initiative.html
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EDIT: It seems like the Dem's are about the only ones who pay attention to these things. Good for Ryan and Sebelius!

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