Obama creates faith office, but questions remain (Roundup)

Feb 5, 2009, 20:33 GMT

Washington - US President Barack Obama on Thursday reached out to believers of all faiths as he expanded the White House office of faith-based partnerships.

Obama signed an executive order establishing the White House Office of Faith-based and Neighbourhood Partnerships - effectively revamping an office created by former president George W Bush that helped religious groups seek grants to provide social services, but had also drawn criticism for blurring the line between church and state.

Speaking at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington earlier in the day, Obama acknowledged differences among religions, but stressed the common beliefs of all faiths to care for others.

'Instead of driving us apart, our varied beliefs can bring us together to feed the hungry and comfort the afflicted; to make peace where there is strife and rebuild what has broken; to lift up those who have fallen on hard times,' he said, adding that this would be the purpose of the office of faith-based partnerships.

Obama insisted his work would not favour religious groups over secular ones but simply allow all organizations to provide services to their communities.

Under Bush, religious groups receiving grants were not subjected to federal laws prohibiting discrimination in hiring practices, allowing them to favour employees who shared their religious beliefs. On the campaign trail, Obama said he would favour removing such stipulations.

On Thursday it remained unclear whether that policy would change, but the office's executive director was charged with seeking legal and constitutional advice from the attorney general on such matters.

Americans United for Separation of Church and State was among the groups urging Obama to change the policy, and director Barry Lynn said the president did not go far enough.

'I am very disappointed that President Obama's faith-based programme is being rolled out without barring evangelism and religious discrimination in taxpayer-funded programmes,' Lynn said in a statement. 'It should be obvious that taxpayer-funded religious bias offends our civil rights laws, our Constitution and our shared sense of values.'

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Obama believes faith-based institutions provide important services, such as childcare, but must adhere to 'constitutional directives' prohibiting the establishment of a state religion or limiting the practice of religion.

The revamped office's top priority will be getting religious and neighbourhood groups involved in the economic recovery and in reducing poverty, the White House said. It will also focus on supporting women and children's issues, including teenage pregnancy and reducing the number of abortions; supporting fathers; and promoting interfaith dialogue around the world.

The office will be led by Joshua DuBois, a 26-year-old former pastor, who worked for Obama as senator and conducted religious outreach for the campaign.

Obama also created a council of religious advisors from various backgrounds to provide input on the office's policies. The board includes directors of secular groups like mentoring organization Big Brothers/Big Sisters of America, experts on church and state issues and religious leaders of conservative and liberal churches.

The Reverend Jim Wallis, the president of Sojourners, a liberal Christian group, was among those named to the council, and called it 'a shift towards a deeper and more constructive engagement with the faith community and civil society around substantive policy issues.'

Obama made an effort during his election campaign to reach out to religious groups, even designating staff specifically to the task. He faced controversies, however, over inflammatory statements made by his then-pastor and rumours that he was a Muslim.

At the breakfast, Obama outlined his religious journey as the child of a Muslim father who became an atheist and non-religious mother, and how he became a Christian as an adult while working with disadvantaged residents in Chicago.

The breakfast draws thousands, including many legislators and religious leaders, each year. Former British prime minister Tony Blair gave the keynote address, speaking of religion's attack from extremists within and non-believers.

Haitian President Rene Preval, Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha, Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski and Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam also attended.