~ things are looking a little brighter in my world. ~ :)*
healing, understanding, common ground, "there is no religion whose central tenet is hate"
separation of church and state, transparency, accountability, not for religious evangelism . . .

www.google.com/hostednews...ZQD965FIGO0
Obama to create faith-based office
By PHILIP ELLIOTT – 1 hour ago
WASHINGTON (AP) [selected quotes only]

"In a world that grows smaller by the day, perhaps we can begin to crowd out the destructive forces of zealotry and make room for the healing power of understanding," Obama told the gathering of lawmakers, dignitaries and world leaders. "This is my hope. This is my prayer."

"I had a father who was born a Muslim but became an atheist, grandparents who were non-practicing Methodists and Baptists, and a mother who was skeptical of organized religion, even as she was the kindest, most spiritual person I've ever known. She was the one who taught me as a child to love, and to understand, and to do unto others as I would want done," he said.

Obama planned to sign an executive order later in the day creating the White House Office on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. It would expand and refocus the faith-based office founded by former President George W. Bush.

Obama said the organization will not favor any one religious group over another, will work with communities and will act "without blurring the line that our founders wisely drew between church and state."

Obama's advisers want to be certain tax dollars sent to the faith-based social service groups are used for secular purposes, such as feeding the hungry or housing the homeless, and not for religious evangelism. The administration doesn't want to be perceived as managing the groups yet does want transparency and accountability.

Obama pledged during the campaign to allow taxpayer-funded religious institutions to hire and fire based on religion — but only for the activities run on private funding.


image gets larger if you click twice on it (at least in my browser).
people.tribe.net/franklove...6e6dc1f31f found at the tribe album of Love is Everything ...
people.tribe.net/franklovesyou ~ thank you. :)*