How firm a foundation?

The ACLU and Americans United for Separation of Church and State are challenging government funding of faith-based community-service programs | Edward E. Plowman

Taking aim with both barrels at the Bush administration’s faith-based initiatives, the ACLU and Americans United for Separation of Church and State filed a lawsuit against Firm Foundation of Bradford County (Pa.) and Pennsylvania offices and officials. FF is a prison ministry that provides inmate vocational training with the help of local, state, and federal grants.

The plaintiffs argue that the religious nature of FF’s training program disqualifies the ministry from receiving government support. They also claim that FF’s hiring policy is discriminatory because it requires its employees to be Christian, and that this, too, violates the Constitution’s Establishment Clause.

Christian Legal Society defense attorneys say they are confident FF is on solid ground, but they anticipate a tough battle in the courts. They believe the eventual ruling could decide the future of government funding for many faith-based community-service programs. And, they add, it could decide whether religious organizations must secularize their faith-based programs in order to receive government grants.