Faith-based groups: Will they get more than praying chance this term?

Published: 2005-04-01

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Although President George W. Bush has long touted the importance of giving faith-based groups money to help the poor, the jobless and the addicted, his plan has never gained the full support of the American public. And now that he's in his second term, he says he is still just as much behind his plan and hopes to pick up more support for it. During a recent White House-sponsored conference on the president's faith-based and community initiatives, Bush aimed to rally the troops, literally, by calling those who work in social service ministry "armies of compassion." He also promised to put some more weight behind the initiative, calling for an expansion of the program and urging Congress to increase funding for it. President Bush told about 250 people at the March 1 conference that his vision for this program has not seen the results he hoped because it has hit so many roadblocks, including a lack of support from Democrats in Congress and complaints from groups raising red flags over the issue of religious groups receiving federal funds.

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