CAIRO — While maintaining Bush-era policies on religious charities to woo Conservatives, US President Barack Obama eyes to use faith to heal political differences and promote civility, the Washington Times reported Friday, February 5.
"Through faith, but not through faith alone, we can unite people to serve the common good," Obama told lawmakers gathered at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington Thursday.
"It is this spirit of civility that we are called to take up when we leave here today. That's what I'm praying for."
The American President lamented deep divisions between Democrats and Republicans, urging a "serious and civil debate" to iron out differences.
"This erosion of civility in the public square sows division and distrust among our citizens," Obama said.
"It poisons the well of public opinion," he warned.
"It makes politics an all-or-nothing sport, where one side is either always right or always wrong when, in reality, neither side has a monopoly on truth."
Democrats and Republicans have been embroiled in a months-long debate and procedural battles over Obama's much-touted healthcare bill.
The US President sharply warned lawmakers of both parties Thursday that they must answer to voters if they balk at passing his long-delayed health reforms.
Though Democrats have large majorities in Congress, the loss of liberal icon Edward Kennedy's former Senate seat in Massachusetts last month stripped away their 60-seat Senate supermajority.
This means Senate Republicans can frustrate or thwart Democratic efforts to pass bills through filibuster delaying and obstruction tactics.
Democrats have several options to merge rival bills that have passed the House and Senate, but each one poses substantial political risks, on legislation which polls show is now largely unpopular with the public.
Obama, the son of a Muslim-turned-atheist Kenyan father and a white American mother that did not practice religion, describes himself as a proud follower of the Trinity United Church of Christ.
He admitted last month that faith keeps him calm in pressing times.
Wooing Cons
Obama’s call comes as the Democratic president is seen wooing Conservatives by maintaining Bush-era policies on religious charities.
"(It was) certainly clear that there is a political agenda to win support in these conservative religious communities as a part of the design of this office," Barry Lynn, executive director of the advocacy group Americans United for Separation of Church and State, told the Wall Street Journal.
Seeking to lure Conservative voters, Obama has left in place a Bush-era policy allowing charities that receive federal aid to hire employees based on their religious beliefs.
This policy was severely criticized by Obama and the Democrats as discriminatory before his election.
Obama is also mulling to allow government-backed Christian charities to display crucifixes, "Jesus saves" posters and other symbols in the rooms where people receive aid.
But this has specifically drawn fire as amounting to taxpayer-funded proselytizing.
"The deck was stacked against us, and stacked against coming out with recommendations that would be consistent with the president's campaign promises," said American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) lobbyist Christopher Anders.
Last year, Obama signed an executive order creating a White House office for religion-based initiatives, highlighting the role of religion in promoting tolerance and unity.
The office was an overhaul of the White House office established by Bush in 2001 to promote his campaign promise of "compassionate conservatism."
Bush's office originally sought to strengthen faith-based and community organizations and expand their capacity to provide federally-funded social services.
But critics complained Bush improperly entwined the federal government with his own deeply held religious faith.
"Through faith, but not through faith alone, we can unite people to serve the common good," Obama told lawmakers gathered at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington Thursday.
"It is this spirit of civility that we are called to take up when we leave here today. That's what I'm praying for."
The American President lamented deep divisions between Democrats and Republicans, urging a "serious and civil debate" to iron out differences.
"This erosion of civility in the public square sows division and distrust among our citizens," Obama said.
"It poisons the well of public opinion," he warned.
"It makes politics an all-or-nothing sport, where one side is either always right or always wrong when, in reality, neither side has a monopoly on truth."
Democrats and Republicans have been embroiled in a months-long debate and procedural battles over Obama's much-touted healthcare bill.
The US President sharply warned lawmakers of both parties Thursday that they must answer to voters if they balk at passing his long-delayed health reforms.
Though Democrats have large majorities in Congress, the loss of liberal icon Edward Kennedy's former Senate seat in Massachusetts last month stripped away their 60-seat Senate supermajority.
This means Senate Republicans can frustrate or thwart Democratic efforts to pass bills through filibuster delaying and obstruction tactics.
Democrats have several options to merge rival bills that have passed the House and Senate, but each one poses substantial political risks, on legislation which polls show is now largely unpopular with the public.
Obama, the son of a Muslim-turned-atheist Kenyan father and a white American mother that did not practice religion, describes himself as a proud follower of the Trinity United Church of Christ.
He admitted last month that faith keeps him calm in pressing times.
Wooing Cons
Obama’s call comes as the Democratic president is seen wooing Conservatives by maintaining Bush-era policies on religious charities.
"(It was) certainly clear that there is a political agenda to win support in these conservative religious communities as a part of the design of this office," Barry Lynn, executive director of the advocacy group Americans United for Separation of Church and State, told the Wall Street Journal.
Seeking to lure Conservative voters, Obama has left in place a Bush-era policy allowing charities that receive federal aid to hire employees based on their religious beliefs.
This policy was severely criticized by Obama and the Democrats as discriminatory before his election.
Obama is also mulling to allow government-backed Christian charities to display crucifixes, "Jesus saves" posters and other symbols in the rooms where people receive aid.
But this has specifically drawn fire as amounting to taxpayer-funded proselytizing.
"The deck was stacked against us, and stacked against coming out with recommendations that would be consistent with the president's campaign promises," said American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) lobbyist Christopher Anders.
Last year, Obama signed an executive order creating a White House office for religion-based initiatives, highlighting the role of religion in promoting tolerance and unity.
The office was an overhaul of the White House office established by Bush in 2001 to promote his campaign promise of "compassionate conservatism."
Bush's office originally sought to strengthen faith-based and community organizations and expand their capacity to provide federally-funded social services.
But critics complained Bush improperly entwined the federal government with his own deeply held religious faith.
