PND (4/11/2000) -- House Passes Bill Containing Charitable Choice Provision

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the Homeownership and Economic Development Act of 2000. The bill contains a charitable choice provision designed to strengthen the partnership between government and religious institutions in providing housing for the nation's low-income, elderly, and disabled citizens, the Freedom Forum reports.

Charitable choice allows religious organizations to compete on the same level as other nonprofit groups for federal funds. Since a charitable-choice provision became law as part of the Welfare Reform Act of 1996, however, opponents have expressed opposition to the concept as a violation of the First Amendment principle of separation of church and state.

Rep. Mark Souder (R-IN), who introduced the charitable-choice amendment, argued that the Department of Housing and Urban Development already allowed religious institutions to use federal funds to provide social services and that his amendment would merely codify the practice. Souder also pointed out that both presidential candidates, Texas Gov. George W. Bush and Vice President Al Gore, have said they support charitable-choice initiatives.

Some representatives and several national civil rights organizations contend that such measures allow religious institutions to ignore civil rights and other laws when using federal funds to provide services. Some religious groups have also expressed concerns that taking federal funds to operate social services could jeopardize their independence.

Leaming, Jeremy. "House Passes Bill With Charitable-Choice Provision." First Amendment Center/Freedom Forum 4/10/2000.

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