Was looking at some blogs I don't frequent nearly enough and ran across this remarkable article at
Black Commentator by the
Rev. Reynard Blake, someone I am embarrassed to say, I never heard of. Anyway, this is a great article I think. Here's a snip:
President Bush, white conservatives, and their black flunkies have bastardized the faith-based (which is not just Christian) movement to control particularly black churches and create a white-controlled, fundamentalist Christian "New World Order." Essentially, Bush, et al have become self-appointed, Koran-desecrating, Christian prophets and begun a religious/social/cultural Armageddon with the premise that "our (Christian, conservative, white) God is better than your God (insert your choice here)." Some black ministers are pawns in this war and are allowing a new sort of blasphemy to surface. Nevertheless, this does not mean that black faith-based organizations should not seek government grant money because it is our tax money; it is just that this money should be sought and accepted with extreme caution. Any mistakes in the use of this money make have serious consequences for our black religious leaders, especially if they are unafraid to challenge the president's policies. And for those black conservative leaders that, in addition to getting government grant money, believe that they also have access and influence with the president remember this: just because you can walk through the front door of the White House does not mean you are IN the White House!
... [A]s one of the main defenders and advocates of Black America, it stands to "clean its own house" to solidify its stature as a leader and advocate in black communities. First, it must remain prophetic. But the main challenge to one of its greatest functions is government money; receiving grant money is fine to support programs, however, it should not purchase silence to administrations that are counterproductive to Black America. The Black Church must remain vigilant in telling America when it is right and when it is wrong. It cannot mimic much of the news media and cower to Bush.
It is my embarrassment that I never considered the power the public purse could have on the Black Church. It seems that Rev. Blake is stating the the Bush Administration has used the carrot and stick with monies to faith based institutions.
My objections have always centered on the church -state wall in this area, and I simply didn't consider the use of such funds in such a blatantly political way. Dumb on me.
And a good lesson, expand your reading. There are many issues we are missing.