SPECIAL
COMMENTARY
BUSH: UNITER OR DIVIDER?
from page 31
Religious Coercion
President Bush's plan would allow
pervasively sectarian government con-
tractors to discriminate in hiring for
government-funded programs based
upon religious belief.
Under current law, houses of worship
and certain religious institutions are
granted an exemption from the prohibi-
tion on religious discrimination in hir-
ing, allowing them to discriminate in
favor of hiring those who share their
religious beliefs. Those operating tax-
payer-funded programs however, may
not engage in the same practice. With-
out safeguards in place, it is not incon-
ceivable that a job announcement for a
government supported social program
could read "Catholics and Jews Need
Not Apply."
In addition, clients could face reli-
gious coercion or indoctrination as
they receive services in a pervasively
sectarian environment, replete with
religious symbols and literature from
religious workers whose primary mis-
sion may be to promote their religious
beliefs and practices.
Many American Jews, listening to
prayers at public ceremonies, are dis-
mayed when clergy offer their invoca-
tions in the names of Jesus Christ, or
the Holy Trinity, which excludes those
who do not believe in Jesus.
As has happened in previous inau-
gurations, the clergy at President
Bush's swearing in ceremony offered
such prayers.
The Rev. Kirbyjon Caldwell
offered his prayer at the conclusion of
the inauguration ceremony "in the
name that's above all other names,
Jesus, the Christ. Let all who agree
say, 'Amen.'"
Perhaps President Bush should take
the example of the Rev. Caldwell, who
subsequently apologized. "If I had to do
it over again," Rev. Caldwell told the
Washington Post, "I probably would not
say, All who agree, say Amen.' Addi-
tionally, I probably would not say 'Jesus,
the name that's above all other names.'
That truly could be interpreted as
inflammatory or offensive."
If Bush's programs go forward, it will
not be long before America's parochial
schools and social service providers con-
front the need to offer such apologies.
But their apologies will be for govern-
ment-sanctioned exclusion.
We will work to convince Presi-
dent Bush that even as his priorities
are right his solutions are misguid-
ed. And we will work tirelessly to
ensure that Congress stands firm
against all threats to religious free-
dom. ❑
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