Source: www.nytimes.com
NEW YORK, November 22, 2010 (an editorial from the New York Times): President Obama has issued an executive order revamping the rules covering religious-based and neighborhood programs receiving federal dollars. It makes some good changes to better ensure that the faith-based initiative begun by George W. Bush and extended by Mr. Obama respects religious liberty.
But the revisions have a glaring omission. Ignoring one of Mr. Obama’s own important campaign promises, and a large coalition of religious, education and civil rights groups, the new decree fails to draw a firm line barring employment discrimination on the basis of religion. The order leaves untouched a 2007 Justice Department memo that dubiously concluded that the government cannot order religious groups not to discriminate as a condition of federal financing. That memo should have been withdrawn long ago by this administration. President Obama firmly asserted that principle on the campaign trail in 2008.