ALERT: Bush Orders Homeland Security To Help Religious Groups

[Coexist]

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/3/8/0440/73933

by Jeffrey Feldman
Tue Mar 07, 2006 at 10:44:00 PM PDT

I am still processing this, but it seems that the President of the United States has just ordered the Department of Homeland Security to do everything in its power to help expand religious organizations in this country.

This executive Order just now posted on the White House website, instructs the DHS to establish a 'Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives' and orders that center to 'strengthen' the 'capacity' of 'faith-based' organizations to serve the needs of the country.

So, the President's 3-step plan to protect us from terrorist attacks and hurricanes appears to be this: (1) Watch hurricanes on TV, (2) Sell the ports to the UAE, and (3) Funnel money to mega-churches.

<snip>
And the President unveils both of these initiatives, of course, not in major announcements to the American people--not by standing proudly before the public and saying, "This is my plan to protect you!" Instead, he sneaks this information out in the dead of night.

Link to White House Press Release:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/03/20060307-5.html

...PLEASE NOTE: This is not satire.

[AndyA]

1. WTF!

Whatever happened to separation of church and state?

:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

This coming from a crook and a liar. The hypocrisy!

[AzDar]

2. Speechless and horrified.... n/t

[Avalux]

3. This is our tax money - wtf are they doing??

I guess that's the name of the game now though, the WH can do whatever it damn well pleases since we are a fascist state. The Constitution and the laws set forth have absolutely no bearing on the motherfuckers.

Am I angry? You bet I am; just when I thought I possibly couldn't be any angrier. I find out this morning that Cuellar has won re-election through a fix in his own county, and now this, not to mention all the other bullshit that's come down over the last several months. How much more can any of us endure??? :grr:

[0007]

11. I wonder what the boiling point is for the people of this country?

Talk about RAPE. This is it baby!

[ArbustoBuster]

25. I think we're pretty damned close to that boiling point.

My wife, who's a Republican, is pretty much ready to impeach anyone with an (R) after his or her name.

If you're worried that there's lots of arguments over politics in my house because I'm married to a Republican, I'll just mention that I convinced her to vote for both Gore and Kerry. Republicans can learn. At least the moderate ones. :D

[panader0]

4. "Eliminate regulatory obstacles"

Sounds like the bush bunch alright. Eliminate the separation of Church and State more like it.

[mom cat]

20. They want to eliminate anti-discrimination laws:

Subject: It is about subverting anti discrinination laws ... esp, about gays.
Message:
This looks like the core of it: Getting around anti-discrimination laws:
Sec. 3. Responsibilities of the Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. In carrying out the purpose set forth in section 2 of this order, the Center shall:

(a) conduct, in coordination with the WHOFBCI Director, a department-wide audit to identify all existing barriers to the participation of faith-based and other community organizations in the delivery of social and community services by the Department, including but not limited to regulations, rules, orders, procure-ment, and other internal policies and practices, and outreach activities that unlawfully discriminate against, or otherwise discourage or disadvantage the participation of faith-based and other community organizations in Federal programs;

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
This is a huge issue with "faith based" orgs. This last week in Boston, the Catholic Diocese
was told by the United Way that they could lose all of their funding because od discriminatory practices. Catholic Charities had just announced that they wound no longer offer adoption services to gay couples. It sounds like this "homeland security" regulation is meant to help religious groups cut through red tape so they can more effectively discriminate against gays.

Watch out! Gays are slated for a wave of hysterical hatred and discrimination. Hitler used homophobia to stoke his tyrany. Bush will do it too!

[Bluebear]

5. Full text and more discussion >>>>

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=602831&mesg_id=602831

[benburch]

6. WAY over the line! nt

[PuraVidaDreamin]

7. Somebody please stop this man

Where is our leadership?

[benburch]

8. In need of one of these...

http://www.kayamed.com.nyud.net:8090/kayamed/images/acces2.jpg
Yes, thats a steel spinal implant.

[Mr_Spock]

9. Isn't this part of the Nazi 12 step plan for country implosion?

This is so fucking outrageous it's NOT funny.

I really hope that he is impeached now - he's doing crazy stuff!!

[Mizmoon]

10. My Rastafarian Church welcomes their assitance

perhaps they can help us find funding to house our "sacred garden".

[benburch]

13. I wanna join THAT congregation!

:evilgrin:

[InkAddict]

12. Perhaps the Directors et al don't want to

deal directly with *'s funde base. "Get 'em out of my hair."

[Nothing Without Hope]

14. *****Another thread on this, including a link/excerpt to a WaPo article:**

Here's the thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x602831
thread title (3-8-06 GD): Army of God - Homeland Security to Help Spread Faith
LaLa_RawRaw post on new Bush Executive order: “Responsibilities of the Department of Homeland Security with Respect to Faith-Based and Community Initiatives” – link: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/03/20060307-5.html

Reply #40 in that thread has a link/excerpt to a PAGE TWENTY (hey, no biggie, right? :sarcasm: ) Wash Post article about this outrage, virtually the only major media coverage excerpt for a very short and uninformative AP article. It's portrayed in the WaPo piece as a nice response for Katrina victims, and it's "bipartisan" too since Bill Clinton has been begging for it.

So, Bush has destroyed separation of church and state by imperial fiat and so far there's not even a whimper of opposition excerpt from us.

[stop the bleeding]

15. checks and balances - I am starting to feel overwhelmed n/t

[sofedup]

16. Onward Christian Soldiers n/t

[Historic NY]

17. Were praying for ya..................

new component to ward off terrorist or natural diasters........praying that it will not be so bad. Homeland Security will now be able to activate the "prayer squads" at a moments notice/

[GrpCaptMandrake]

18. Now, now! Relax!

This is just the mechanism whereby the mega-fundies will become the chaplains in the concentration camps Halliburton is building for DHS to run. They'll lead the re-education classes.

Why all the fuss?

:nuke: :grr: :nuke: :grr: :nuke: :grr: :nuke: :grr:

[Sydnie]

19. WTF!!!

Create one more office that will cost a lot of money and serve very few ... in the name of Jeasus ... what about us "darksided" people. Can't we have an office there too?

:wtf:

[EVDebs]

21. They're supporting a Third Temple movement. All part of policy...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=215343

[lectrobyte]

22. I'm going to do everything I can to make sure the Church of the Subgenius

is in on that cash cow. Nothing more slackful than a wheelbarrow full of money. And to paraphrase my Baptist's preacher: Hand that money over, it's been in pink hands long enough! Praise Bob!

[loudsue]

23. Why doesn't Homeland Security try helping KATRINA victims?

Give help to churches to help Katrina victims? Well, let's see: a middle-man taking some of the $$ is going to get the job done?

I don't think so.

:kick:

[Initech]

24. This is it - we are officially moving toward a theocracy.

When that happens, I'm outta here.