Thursday, March 03, 2005

House OKs Bill on Faith-Based Jobs: Can legally dsicriminate on religous grounds and still receive federal funding

Yahoo! News - House OKs Bill on Faith-Based JobsThu Mar 3, 7:55 AM ET | Top Stories - Los Angeles Times | By Justin Dickerson Times Staff Writer

WASHINGTON — The House on Wednesday approved a job-training bill that would allow faith-based organizations receiving federal funds to consider a person's religious beliefs in making employment decisions.

Under current law, religious groups that receive federal money for job-training programs must obey civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination in hiring or firing.

Passage of the bill, on a largely party-line vote of 224-200, came a day after President Bush (news - web sites) told a group of religious leaders that he would attempt to institute the faith-based employment policies through an executive order if Congress did not approve them this year.

In a statement Wednesday supporting the bill, the White House said, "Receipt of federal funds should not be conditioned on a faith-based organization's giving up a part of its religious identity and mission."

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