Thomas Mott Osborne: “I really have three comments regarding the faith-based issue. First of all, I think that we need to recognize that there…”

“I really have three comments regarding the faith-based issue. First of all, I think that we need to recognize that there is legal precedent. And some of this has been discussed earlier. There are four different acts: The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Act; the Welfare Reform Act of 1996; the Community Renewal Tax Relief Act of 2000; the Community Services Block Grant Act of 1998, which we have been discussing, which is current law; title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which we have been discussing; Supreme Court decisions such as Bowen v. Kendrick. So all of these provide sound legal support for the fact that faith-based organizations have a right to consider religion in determining hiring. And so we think this is well substantiated. What time of night we voted on a bill should not have any bearing. We are accountable people. We cannot call Kings Acts because it was at a certain time of day. We hear about special interests being involved in this, such as the Salvation Army, Catholic Social Services. These are not really very powerful special interest groups, and I do not think we need to worry about them very much.”