President Puts Faith in Religion-Based Social Services: Bush favors private aid with a moral dimension at the expense of more traditional programs.

President Puts Faith in Religion-Based Social Services: "February 8, 2005 | PRESIDENT BUSH'S BUDGET PLAN | President Puts Faith in Religion-Based Social Services | By Peter Wallsten and Tom Hamburger, Times Staff Writers

WASHINGTON — In the latest sign of a philosophical change in how the government should deliver social services, President Bush's new budget would cut some traditional aid for the poor in such areas as housing and health coverage.

At the same time, some religion-based programs that promote such goals as sexual abstinence and marriage and provide mentors for at-risk children would enjoy increased federal aid.

Both the shift away from long-standing social welfare policies and the willingness to step up spending on programs tied to religious organizations reflect the fact, analysts said, that the administration is more comfortable than many of its predecessors in advocating social service strategies with a moral dimension. ...