WASHINGTON — Jim Towey, the director of the White House office of faith-based and community initiatives since 2002, announced April 18 that he is resigning his position to become president of a Catholic college in Pennsylvania. Beginning July 1, Towey, 49, will be president of Saint Vincent College, a 160-year-old school in Latrobe, Pa., that is sponsored by Benedictine monks. He is expected to leave the White House by June 2.
President George W. Bush expressed gratitude for Towey’s work at the office of faith-based initiatives, which has helped establish 11 federal agency centers addressing religious and community charities and held 23 conferences across the country. Towey came to his White House post with a background that included addressing aging and health issues and serving as the lawyer for the late Mother Teresa. He has credited his time spent with the famous Catholic nun for his attention to those in need. Towey defended Bush’s effort to increase access to federal funding for religious social services when it was criticized and sued by church-state separationists who thought the initiative blurred lines between faith and government. Barry Lynn, executive director of the Washington-based Americans United for Separation of Church and State, said Towey “waged an unrelenting war against church-state separation.”
When legislation stalled, Towey helped carry out parts of Bush’s agenda through executive orders that did not require the approval of Congress. Towey will replace James F. Will, who will continue as the school’s vice chancellor and also become president emeritus.
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