Action Alert: OPPOSE STATE PROMOTION OF FAITH-BASED PROGRAMS IN OREGON

[DesEtoiles]

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4-20-05


ACLU of Oregon Email Activist Network


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***   ACLU-OR Action:  Oppose State Promotion of Faith-Based Programs in Oregon


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OPPOSE STATE PROMOTION OF FAITH-BASED PROGRAMS IN OREGON


ACLU of Oregon urges you to take immediate action to contact your State Senator and urge them to oppose SB 818, which would allow expansion of a pilot program encouraging state social services clients to access faith-based programs operated by churches.  SB 818 passed out of the Senate Human Services Committee Tuesday and could reach the Senate floor for a vote by early next week


Sponsored by State Senator Frank Shields (D-Portland), SB 818 would inappropriately blur the constitutionally required separation between state employees and religious activity.  Under the expanded program, SB 818 would require Oregon Department of Human Services (“DHS”) employees to contact and work with the faith-based organization of any state client receiving benefits if the client requests such contact. 


In the past, the state has often contracted with religious organizations to provide social services, but prohibits those organizations from discriminating on the basis of religion or from proselytizing when serving state clients.  SB 818 would have the effect of requiring state employees to encourage clients to access religious programs that only serve adherents of specific denominations or religions.



In 2003, despite ACLU’s concerns, the Legislature authorized a limited two-year pilot project similar to SB 818, but required DHS to report the results to this legislature.  DHS Director Gary Weeks testified this week that no report has been issued because it took until Fall 2004 for the program to begin in Coos Bay.  Senator Shields testified it took time for DHS employees and local churches “to try to learn one another’s languages, and to train the Dept. of Human Services how to speak some God language and hopefully some churches how to speak legalese.”


ACLU is insisting that the pilot project be extended for only two more years so the Legislature can receive a full report before deciding whether it should be continued or expanded.


 


Unfortunately, the Senate Human Services Committee adopted amendments that extend the project until 2012 and allow DHS to expand it to other parts of the state without additional legislative approval.  With only three members of the committee present, the amended SB 818 passed out of committee and is now headed to the floor unless we can persuade the Oregon Senate not to proceed with this bill.  Please call your State Senator and urge her/him to oppose SB 818 and let us know what response you receive from your Senator.  Click here to get information on contacting your Oregon State Senator


 


**Please note: SB 818 was amended in committee, but the amendments are not printed so we cannot yet provide a link to the final version of the bill.  The amendments make the following changes to the original SB 818:


1)       Uses the term “pilot program” instead of “statewide program.”  However don’t be misled by this language change.  SB 818 would still allow DHS to implement this program in as many counties as DHS decides, including statewide.


2)       Allows the law to expire in 2012.


 


 


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[DesEtoiles]

1. Here's my letter to my state Senator

DHS should not be forced to contract with religious organizations that could, legally, proselytize to DHS clients or discriminate on the basis of religion. That is unAmerican and unOregonian. We help those that need help and we don't require a "faith test" as a condition to do so. Don't take advantage of a DHS client's condition to force them to adopt or espouse religious beliefs that they would not otherwise hold. (I'm fairly certain that, while it looks good on paper, the "if the client requests it" language is going to go by the wayside in the real world.)

In addition, in my view this is also a violation of the Constitutional separation of church and state mandate.

Please vote against SB 818.