Washington D.C., Nov 21, 2010 / 08:07 am
Two Catholics with extensive experience in partnerships between religious charities and the government have expressed different opinions about President Obama's Nov. 17 executive order, which provided new guidelines for faith-based groups that receive federal assistance.
In his introduction to the order, President Obama said the directive was intended to “promote compliance with constitutional and other applicable legal principles,” and to “strengthen the capacity of faith-based and other neighborhood organizations to deliver services effectively to those in need.”
Fr. Larry Snyder, president of Catholic Charities USA, welcomed the presidential decree. His agency praised the Obama administration's continued commitment to faith-based partnerships, describing the executive order as “an important affirmation” of “critical programs.”
The Catholic Charities' president is also a member of President Obama's Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. Last spring, the council issued a series of recommendations on how to improve government partnerships with religious charities, while clarifying boundaries between churches and state agencies.