White House issues regulations for funding US faith groups

Six years after a White House religious advisory panel grappled with how the government should fund faith groups, its recommendations are being implemented.

The Orthodox Union on March 31 praised the Obama administration for issuing regulations based on recommendations made in 2010 by its Faith-Based Advisory Council, which included three leaders of Jewish groups among its 25 members.

The regulations, finalized last week by nine government agencies, prohibit faith-based groups receiving government funds from discriminating against beneficiaries based on religion or refusal to participate in a religious activity, and to notify beneficiaries that such a ban is in place.

They also “make clear that faith-based organizations are eligible to participate in federally funded social service programs on the same basis as any other private organization,” says the release by the Orthodox Union.

— JTA