MADISON, Wis. — The Freedom from Religion Foundation (FRF) has sued officials of President Bush’s faith-based initiative, saying their actions unconstitutionally favor religious organizations.
The eight-page complaint, filed June 17 in U.S. District Court in Madison, Wis., questions federal funding of faith-based groups as well as the national and regional conferences sponsored by the White House Office of Faith-based and Community Initiatives.
Defendants named in the suit include Jim Towey, director of the office, executives of similar cabinet-level offices and several members of Bush’s cabinet.
“The defendants’ actions have violated the fundamental principle of the separation of church and state by using federal taxpayer appropriations to support activities that endorse religion and give faith-based organizations preferred positions as political insiders,” the suit alleges.
Towey responded by saying FRF doesn’t understand the operations of his office and the related cabinet-level centers.
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