Thursday, November 19, 2009
Government funding of churches operating social programs is more palatable to Democrats than Republicans, now that a Democrat is in the White House and supports the concept. Back in 2001 when George W. Bush launched his faith-based initiatives program, 70% of Democrats and 81% of Republicans expressed support for the idea, according to the Pew Research Center. Now, GOP support has dipped to 66%, while Democratic favorability for giving government money to churches has increased to 77%. Among all respondents who were surveyed, support for faith-based initiatives has dipped from 75% eight years ago to 69% in 2009.
Although it was Bush who introduced the Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, it was actually President Bill Clinton who, in 1996, signed the first bill authorizing states to use federal funds to hire religious groups to provide social services. As soon the law took effect, the first governor to take advantage of its provisions was George W. Bush of Texas. When Barack Obama entered the White House, he changed the name of the Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives to the Council for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.
-Noel Brinkerhoff, David Wallechinsky
Faith-Based Programs Still Popular (Pew Research Center)
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