Religious groups protest bill they say would impose hiring restrictions upon faith-based charities

Religious leaders are pressuring Congress not to pass pending legislation that the group says would impose hiring restrictions on religious charities receiving federal grants. The group delivered a letter to every member of Congress in which the leaders of various religious groups, including World Vision, the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America (UOJCA), and the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, contend that a provision in HR 5466 requires them to abandon their practice of only hiring practitioners of their various religions. The SAMHSA Modernization Act of 2010 would reauthorize federal substance abuse treatment funding that is administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and has language preventing faith-based groups that consider religion in their hiring practices from receiving federal money.

The provision specifically states: œWith respect to any activity to be funded (in whole or in part) through an award of a grant, cooperative agreement, or contract under this title or any other statutory authority of the Administration, the Administrator, or the Director of the Center involved, as the case may be, may not make such an award unless the applicant agrees to refrain from considering religion or any profession of faith when making any employment decision regarding an individual who is or will be assigned to carry out any portion of the activity.

Richard Stearns, the president and CEO of World Vision, US, says the legislation puts important work at risk.

œToo much is at stake " especially among the tens of millions who receive help, care and support from faith-based charities, said Stearns. œThere is no good reason " nor a compelling legal justification " to jeopardize those organizations and, more importantly, the people they serve.

œThe law has long protected the religious freedom of both the people who receive government-funded services, and the groups that provide the services " long before President Obama, and long before President Bush, said Anthony R. Picarello Jr., General Counsel of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops. œStripping away the religious hiring rights of religious service providers violates the principle of religious freedom, and represents bad practice in the delivery of social services.