(Washington, DC) President Bush signed executive orders today to further his agenda of faith-based initiatives. American Humanist Association Executive Director Tony Hileman responded, "Bush's actions explicitly ignore the wishes of the elected members of Congress who intentionally did not pass faith-based initiative legislation."

Today's executive orders allowed sectarian organizations to receive public dollars, specified that those public dollars won't come attached with prohibitions against discriminatory hiring practices, and opened two new governmental faith-based offices in the Department of Agriculture and the Agency for International Development.

"In these actions, not only does Bush undermine the democratic process by usurping legislative powers but he also misuses public funds by opening the door for violations of the principle of church-state separation. Perhaps of even more consequence, these executive orders specifically allow faith-based organizations to discriminate in their hiring even though they are using public funds," explained Hileman.

"One thing's for sure, the message is loud and clear that some of these faith-based organizations receiving our tax dollars will be able to say 'Gays, women, and Humanists need not apply.' Public funds shouldn't be used to discriminate. Congress made this understood only a few years ago when they stopped the flow of public dollars to Bob Jones University," said Fred Edwords, editor of the Humanist magazine.

Bush's faith-based initiatives will invariably lead to discrimination in hiring and in the services provided. Should Jews have to receive services in an environment inundated with Christian faith symbols, rhetoric, and practices? Should Humanists and others in need have to give up their freedom of conscience in order to receive government services?

When our representatives in Congress were presented with these programs they were rejected. The President should respect the decisions of Congress and not subvert them in a way that breaches the integrity of the wall of church-state separation.