Anthony Weiner: “despite the divisiveness of the term ``faith-based,'' most Americans are united in their support of religious…”

“despite the divisiveness of the term ``faith-based,'' most Americans are united in their support of religious organizations. Across the country, these organizations do great work, feeding the hungry, caring for the sick, and in many cases providing affordable housing to those most in need. That's why it's surprising that the Republicans are using an otherwise worthy effort to reform Government Sponsored Enterprises like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to throw a wrench in the relationship between government and the religious community. The Affordable Housing Fund created by the bill will commit 5 percent of Fannie and Freddie profits toward a grant program to build, maintain, and rehabilitate housing for low-income families. Yet language passed in the Managers Amendment stops that money from flowing to faith-based organizations. That amounts to $500 million a year that Republicans don't believe should go to organizations like Catholic Charities. Today in Brooklyn and Queens alone Catholic Charities operates 3,000 units of affordable housing including 2,090 units for senior citizens, 480 units of family housing and 377 units of supportive housing for formerly homeless individuals. But the Church, the largest non-profit provider of low income housing in Brooklyn and Queens, will be shut out of the new program. Faith should never be used to divide an electorate or play a political game.…”