t r u t h o u t - Court: Bush Can Be Sued on Faith Based Initiative

Bush has been putting state money into backing christian groups of neo-cons for some time.

Now a court is challenging it.

That's good then.


t r u t h o u t - Court: Bush Can Be Sued on Faith Based Initiative: " Challenge to Bush Initiative Reinstated
The Associated Press

Saturday 14 January 2006

Madison, Wis. - A group can sue the federal government over claims that President Bush's faith-based initiative is an unconstitutional endorsement of religion, a federal appeals court ruled.

A three-judge panel of the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday reinstated the lawsuit brought by the Freedom From Religion Foundation. The group claims Bush's program, which helps religious organizations get government funding to provide social services, violates the separation of church and state.

'Bush says this is constitutional, but it's never been tried by the courts. So we're pleased,' said Annie Laurie Gaylor, co-president of the foundation, said Saturday.

Bush sidestepped Congress by issuing executive orders to create the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives and similar centers in 10 federal agencies during his first term. He said the goal was to help religious and community groups compete for federal funding to fight poverty, substance abuse and other social problems."