An amendment to allow all faith-based organizations to maintain their religious character and autonomy -- including the ability to use government money to employ staff -- will be added to a Head Start reauthorization bill when it reaches the Senate floor, according to Craig Orfield, spokesman for the Senate Health Committee. The committee's chairman, Sen. Mike Enzi (R-WY), is the sponsor of the Head Start bill.

The White House is citing the recent court ruling as an impetus for congressional action on the religious hiring provision, which in recent years has passed in the House but failed to gain full Senate consideration.

The right of faith-based organizations to consider religious beliefs when hiring staff paid with public funds has emerged as a major legal issue for President's Faith-Based and Community Initiative. In 2002, the President took administrative steps to implement religious hiring provisions within federal agencies after Congress failed to enact such measures into law.

Posted by Jennifer Lowe, 09:08:26 AM