Bush Touts Plan To Fund 'Faith-Based' Charities
NATALIE ALLEN, CNN ANCHOR: Well, for a second day, President Bush is preaching the virtues of so-called "faith-based" social work. Mr. Bush is visiting a school in Washington, which describes itself as an afterschool family and child support center, providing a safe haven for vulnerable children and youth. It was founded in 1990 by a retired police officer. And it relies primarily on private donations. Under the plan Mr. Bush is sending to Congress today, programs like this could compete with government and private secular programs for taxpayer funding. So we will listen in to the president.</s>ALLEN: President Bush announcing a major expansion of charitable choice which has been limited to welfare, drug treatment and community development programs. This proposal by Mr. Bush that he is sending to Congress today would open all federal grant programs to religious groups. This plan is expected to sail through the House. However, there are those worried about breaching the wall between church and state. But one of the men, who will run the office that will distribute funds if this is approved, says, this organization can fund the soup; it can fund the shelter; it should not fund the bibles. That's from a former mayor, who will be working on the agency that will oversee, as I said, giving out this money. Civil liberty, civil rights groups, however, have plotted a strategy to fight this. And they vowed a court challenge, if they lose. So we will continue to follow it.