President Bush has created a new office in the White House to increase funding and manpower for the nation's non-profit and charity organizations -- many of which have ties to religious organizations.
The Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives will work with five government agencies -- health and human services, education, labor, housing and urban development and justice.
Bush's plan includes tax breaks for individuals and corporations who make contributions to non-profit and charitable organizations and a boost in funding for Americorps, which places America's youth in community service programs.
"I think it's a good thing because it allows the non-profits located in the community to reach out and help their community," said a representative from the Baptist Student Union, speaking on the condition that he not be named. "Somebody in Washington will not know how to help somebody in our community."
Constitutional watch dog groups like The American Civil Liberties Union are voicing opposition to Bush's agenda. Executive Director of the ACLU of Tennessee Hedy Weinberg said he questions how the new system will work.
"We have very serious concerns about President Bush's proposal," Weinberg said.
"There is no way federal funding can be paid to religious institutions without breaking the separation of church and state doctrine.
"Who decides? Who gets this money? Who decides if the Baptist food bank gets funding or the Wiccas who have a homeless shelter," Weinberg said. "You can not pick and choose which faith doctrine is acceptable."
Weinberg also wondered if federal civil rights laws would apply to these private institutions that receive funding from the federal government.
Steve Carpenter, spokesperson for the Memphis Union Mission, said he thinks President Bush has good intentions.
"There are certain needs of society the government doesn't know how to meet." Carpenter said.
Faith-based charities often discover that federal aid can be a roadblock instead of a launching pad for real social reform.
Anderson would know. The Memphis Union Mission received about 10 tons of food aid annually from the United States Dietary Association. The food donations stopped when a USDA inspector discovered that The Mission required the hungry men to attend a 30-minute chapel service before the food was served.
Requiring the men to attend a service violated USDA policy and tons of food were no longer available to hungry, homeless men.
Anderson's experience with the USDA has made him wary of accepting help from the government.
"We'll just have to wait and see," Anderson said. "If there are strings attached we will not take it."
Anderson's experience illustrates one of the ACLU's complaints about Bush's new agenda.
"Sending government money and aid to faith-based organizations allows them to proselytize," Weinberg said. "They have a captive audience."
