Only Christians Need Apply

This almost got buried in the past week of all-hurricane news, which is an extremely sad note. On the 23rd of September, an update to the Head Start program was passed in the House of Representatives which now allows preschool employers of the program to hire employees based upon their religious affiliation. Yep, that's right...'based upon their religion'. So much for the EEOC when federal grant monies are involved, eh? Boy, I tell you, it's a good thing all those crazy rumors about our country slowly becoming a theocracy are just the stuff of wacko minds... Jage

Full story here...

WASHINGTON (AP) — Churches and other religious groups are allowed to receive federal money to provide preschool to poor children. Now, the House says, they should be allowed to hire based on religion.

In a broad update of the Head Start program, the House voted Thursday to let preschool providers consider a person's faith when hiring workers — and still be eligible for federal grants. The Republican-led House said the move protects the rights of religious groups, but Democrats blasted it as discriminatory.

Only 23 Democrats supported the House bill, which was approved 231-184. The vote on the amendment allowing the religion-based hiring was even tighter. It passed 220-196, with support from 10 Democrats.

"This is about our children, and denying them exemplary services just because the organization happens to be a religious one is just cruel," said Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C.

Rep. George Miller of California, the ranking Democrat on the Education Committee, said the religion provision marred an otherwise strong bill. "That is wrong," Miller said. "It is a violation of our civil rights laws and it has sunk the chances of making this important bill a truly bipartisan bill."

"Congress should not be in the business of supporting state-sponsored discrimination," said Rep. Alcee Hastings, D-Fla.

The new Head Start logo?