March 24, 2001

CONGRESS NEEDS TO "JUST SAY NO" TO WATTS-HALL FAITH-BASED FUNDING MEASURE...

Let Your Representative Know That You Oppose Religious Subsidies. Help Up Stop HR 7, the "Community Solutions Act"

Reps. J.C. Watts (R-Oklahoma) and Tony P. Hall (D-Ohio) have introduced HR 7, the so-called "community Solutions Act." The measure is designed to implement President George W. Bush faith-based initiative, and funnel public money to sectarian groups operating social programs. It dramatically expands the "charitable choice" provision of the 1996 welfare reform act which invites churches, mosques, temples and other religious organizations to compete for government contracts in order to operate faith-based social programs.

Already, religious groups in America are being subsidized to administer an array of social outreaches. The money is presumably used only for the "secular" part of a program. There is little oversight, however, and few administrative controls. The 1996 "charitable choice" provision made this situation worse; and now, the Watts-Hall legislation would expand the funding to subsidies religion-based outreaches involved in everything from juvenile justice and crime prevention to hunger relief and housing.

This and similar legislation claims that no government funds can be used for sectarian worship, instruction and proselytizing. American Atheists and other groups, though, point out that public money cannot easily be segregated from a private, religious mission. The whole Bush faith-based initiative actually encourages religious groups to seek public money and operate these programs, without limiting their sectarian character. In practice, these programs DO promote religion, and our money IS used for proselytizing, worship and other religious activities.

We need to stop HR 7, the "Community Solutions Act" now. Once again, it's time to let Congress know that you oppose a Religion Tax on millions of Atheists and, indeed, all Americans. Here's what you can do to help...

* CONTACT CONGRESS. Fax, call, write or e-mail your Representative today and let him/her know that you oppose HR7, and efforts to expand the "charitable choice" scheme!

* SEND AN E-MAIL from our web site! (see below)

* LEARN MORE ABOUT CHARITABLE CHOICE, FAITH-BASED PARTNERSHIPS AND THE PUBLIC FUNDING OF RELIGION

* SPREAD THIS ACTION ALERT! Encourage others to visit this page and contact congress!

Together, we can stop efforts to put America's "religion industry" on the public payroll under the guise of solving social programs.

Links:

• Contact Congress. Resources for contacting legislative and government officials.
• Tips on effective writing.

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