The Washington Post is reporting that President Obama’s faith council is debating whether religious-affiliated social-service groups that receive federal funding to provide services should have to remove or cover religious pictures, crosses, crucifixes and other religious icons and symbols.
The debate took place during a teleconference yesterday. According to the Post, Melissa Rogers, director of Wake Forest’s Center for Religion and Public Affairs, proposed three possible actions the council could recommend.
They include: 1) removing such religious icons, 2) allowing them only if no other religious-neutral rooms are available and covering up the icons is impractical or 3) not requiring their removal, but encouraging religious organizations to be sensitive about the issue.
According to William Wan, no clear consensus emerged from the debate.
Of course, the president is no stranger to hiding Christ. Recall that when he delivered a speech at Catholic Georgetown University on April 14, the White House asked the university to cover up the letters IHS, which symbolize the name of Christ.
The debate is highly reminiscent of the European Court of Human Rights’ decision to fine Italy’s public schools because they display the crucifix.
Those proposing the removal of religious images might want to ask: What it is that motivates charitable donors and organizations to give in the first place?
Is it not the love of Christ that is motivating groups such as the Vatican, Catholic Charities, Catholic Relief Services and Food for the Poor to pour money, food, water, aid and volunteers into places such as New Orleans and Haiti?
A great many people seem to think that if we can hide Christ — because he might offend — he’ll simply go away. If they want Christ to go away, do they want all those who help the poor because of the Gospel to also go away?
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“The Washington Post is reporting that President Obama’s faith council is debating whether religious-affiliated social service groups that receive federal funding to provide services should have to remove or cover religious pictures, crosses, Crucifixes, and other religious icons and symbols.”
In that case, since there is nothing about political parties in the U.S. Constitution, we should eliminate all references to them by government employees, elected and appointed.
There will come a day when this country will be brought to its knees, with or without religious symbols. I wonder how many will be left ‘standing’ on that day. Oh the horror of that day!
Catholic organizations should not take any funds from the federal government. These monies are the camel’s nose under the tent. WE should rather scale down efforts, (and I say this reluctantly), rather than let the federal government take away (ultimately) our beliefs.
I think that the USCCB needs to post a website outline exactly what the Church does, how much it costs, and how much .... err, how little, rather…we take from the government to do it.
Let people see how many hungry we feed, how many people we shelter, how many sick of heart, body, and mind we tend to. Let them see how many people - from infant to adult - we educate. Let them see what percentage of people recieving hospital care are being treated in a Catholic hospital.
Let them see what it would cost the government to provide these services if we weren’t. And remember - many of them are being done by volunteers or people who are willing or able to accept low pay with limited benefits. If government had to step in, the costs of ALL of these programs would triple to cover salaries, insurance, benefits, paid vacations, and pensions of the government employees that would mismanage these programs. For every dollar spent on services to the poor, the government spends several to pay for the mechanism.
Let them see what we do. Then let them do it better or shut up.
It is apparent that Pres. Obama’s faith council is trying to elimiate all references to religion in our country. Thats what happens when bureaucracies are created. look36
one suggestion, Get rid of Obama and his mimons
The son of God was persecuted while performing good works. We should expect no better treatment from today’s non-believers. My emotions tell me to lash out at them. Jesus taught us that we should pray for them.
No division. We need to hold together in righteous prayer and actions through the Gospels in keeping the face of Christ message in front of our eyes. And never to be hidden of the One True peace that keeps our world together. In unity. I pray.
I would really appreciate more detail about when and where these statements were made and the context. For some reason these reports don’t ring true. I am not suggesting that the reporting is untruthful but it is inconsistent with other statements by the President.
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