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Holder Testifies About Religious-Based Hiring By Funded Faith-Based Groups

By Howard M. Friedman

The Obama administration has so far not announced an official position on whether it would continue the Bush Administration policy that allowed social-service groups receiving federal faith-based funding to apply religious criteria in hiring. Last Thursday, Attorney General Eric Holder, in testimony before the House Judiciary Committee (after his prepared statement), answered questions from Rep. Robert Scott (D-VA) about the Administration's position on hiring by faith-based groups. A press release from Americans United interprets the somewhat opaque exchange as a commitment by Holder to non-discrimination. Here is the crucial part of the exchange:

Scott: Let?s be clear. Is the policy of this administration to allow discrimination? Is the policy of the administration going to be that discrimination will not be allowed?

Holder: We are -- yes, that is not the view that we share. We do not have a view that discrimination is, is appropriate. And we want to, as I said, interact with these organizations where these issues are presented in such a way that we are acting consistent with the law and acting, again, consistent with what our values are, both as a nation and as an administration.

(See prior related posting.)

Full post as published by Religion Clause on May 16, 2010 (boomark / email).