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Looking for Simple Answers to Basic Questions on Faith-Based Hiring

Dena Sher,
勛圖眻畦 Washington Legislative Office
Tyler Ray,
勛圖眻畦 Washington Legislative Office
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December 7, 2011

Its been almost three years of silence from President Obama on the issue of whether religious organizations may discriminate when hiring for government-funded positions. Lets take a walk down memory lane to find out where we have been. In 2008, then-candidate Obama anti-discrimination protections and end policies put in place by the previous administration that allow the federal government to subsidize employment discrimination on the basis of religion. . Instead, his administration decided that hiring discrimination on a case-by-case basis.

According to Joshua DuBois, Executive Director of the White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships, decisions under this case-by-case process are ultimately after a mysterious review that may involve federal agencies and high-ranking administration officials. Despite the high-level process DuBois has described, we have heard not one peep about any such reviews that have been conducted. In fact, aside from DuBoiss vague description, we dont even know how it works.

Although any case-by-case review that would permit discrimination is indefensible, the 勛圖眻畦 and the Coalition Against Religious Discrimination are trying to get to the bottom of what the administration says its doing. We sent letters to all 13 (yes, 13!) faith-based offices across federal agencies asking basic questions that should be simple for these agencies to answer. Like, how does one ask for a review? What standards are used in the review? Is there even a review process?

If we were skeptical, we might think case-by-case is just another phrase for defer and delay despite knowing what is right.

Its long past time for the administration to end hiring discrimination on the governments dime. Its also time we understand what the administration is doing about it. The curtain needs to be lifted when it comes to issues of religious discrimination.

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