Blessed Be the Ties That Bind? The Challenge of Charitable Choice to Moral Obligation

The Privatization of Social Services from Public to Sectarian

“…The use of faith-based organizations for promotion of social welfare and to meet the needs of the poor is widely supported by members of both the Democratic and Republican parties (Bartkowski & Regis, 1999;Glennon, 2000). In the 2000 presidential election, both Democratic Candidate Al Gore and Republican President George W. Bush lauded the devolution of the providing of social services from the public to religious sectors (Bartkowski & Regis, 1999;Glennon, 2000).…”

“…In the 2000 presidential election, both Democratic Candidate Al Gore and Republican President George W. Bush lauded the devolution of the providing of social services from the public to religious sectors (Bartkowski & Regis, 1999;Glennon, 2000).…”

“…To answer concerns about possible discriminatory-related practices by religious social service providers, Charitable Choice does contain an alternative provision that requires federal, state, or local governments to ensure that alternative secular programs be available to serve clients who object to receiving services from a religious social service provider (Cahill & Jones, 2002;Glennon, 2000).…”

“…A study completed by Lieberman and Cummings (2002) for the General Accounting Office (GAO) found "at least 19 states have contracted with FBOs (faith-based organizations) to provide some welfare-related services" (p. 2). PRWORA contains a provision known as Charitable Choice, which decreases the barriers of religious organizations in their ability to compete for federal and state funding to provide social services (Davis, 1996;Bartkowski & Regis, 1999;Cahill & Jones, 2002;Glennon, 2000;Cnaan & Bodie, 2002;Kennedy & Bielefeld, 2002;Knippenberg, 2003).…”

“…(pp. 224-225) Both conservative (right-wing) and liberal (left-wing) factions have voiced concerns regarding this privatization effort and the implications Charitable Choice has on the rights of both recipients of social services and the religious organizations involved in the allocation of services (Glennon, 2000;Kennedy & Bielefeld, 2002). Religious conservative concerns stem around possible increased bureaucratic red-tape associated with government funding and a trickle-down effect to organiza- Christopher W. Blackwell and Sophia F. Dziegielewski 27 tions such as the Church of Scientology and the Nation of Islam (Kennedy & Bielefeld, 2002).…”