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But the money doesn't actually go to funding the religion. It *can* go to religious organizations for things like keeping the homeless fed, helping to get them off drugs, provide shelter, etc. So if you have something against helping the homeless then that is a different story.
Faith-based funding funds *faith*-based organizations by the very definition. I have no problem with the government spending money on solving drug addiction and helping the poor, in fact I am deeply concerned with the plight of all people in those predicaments, but I am massively opposed to giving the money to churches and then asking them to promise never to bring up god or religion. It just ain't going to happen. For instance some of that faith-based money is going to Bob Jones University of all places. Bob Jones is a Christian fundamentalist "college" which teaches creationism to students and bans interracial dating on campus. How can the government possibly make sure that none of that money will be used to fund religious activities?
If funding religion is *not* the goal of faith-based funding (and by the inclusion of the word faith it seems to me it must) then why not put the money into creating totally secular programs free from religious influence?
Religious charities should remain voluntary charities, for the sake of religion itself in this country if not for the constitutional principle of separation of church and state. When the government starts funding a church, the church becomes dependent on the government for funds. So it's bad for churches too.
What would be funny is if some of the money went to an Islamic charity in the US which happened to be raising money for Osama bin Laden and Al Qaeda. Now *that* would be irony!
There is a lot more to say about this subject. I suggest going to
http://www.au.org/ (Americans United for the Separation of Church and State) for more information on religion and the government.