Welfare Reform Will Mix State Money, Religion Charities Can Keep Religious Message, Contract With State For Services

The architects of Washington’s welfare reform say they are willing to blur the line between church and state for the sake of results.

“Religious-based organizations get results. That’s what got the attention of policy-makers in the first place,” said Rep. Suzette Cooke, R-Kent. “The element of religion is one of the necessary ingredients in their success.”

By telling religious organizations they don’t have to set aside their message to contract with the state, Cooke and other sponsors of welfare reform hope to draw in a wider variety of organizations providing social services.

The key protection for the rights of people receiving services will be the variety of providers, Cooke said.

“If someone is offended by that religious content, they will have another option,” she said. “But the thing is a lot of the recipients want that type of content.”

No one is sure exactly how the new provision will change welfare in Washington.

Since President Bill Clinton signed federal welfare reform year, several state governments have joined forces with churches and religious organizations.

In Michigan, the state is paying for a program that pairs welfare recipients with mentors, many of whom are organized through churches. In one county, 60 churches participated, including Christian Reformed, Lutherans, Catholics, Methodists and Pentecostal.

In Texas, the state is contracting with a church to set up a pre-release center for inmates.

Now that Washington has opened the door, state officials are waiting to see which groups submit proposals.

Phil Altmeyer, director of the Union Gospel Mission, said he is wary.

“I might consider starting some new programs,” he said. “I would hate to get something going then have the state come back in a few years and say, ‘We don’t like your religious message. You can’t have any more money.”’

, DataTimes