Rights of Faith-Based Agencies working in the Public Square, Feb 3

Dr. Stanley Carlson-Thies, President of the Institutional Religious Freedom Foundation (IRFA) will present a Brown Bag luncheon seminar, Wednesday, February 3 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., on the status of the rights of faith-based agencies and professionals working in the Public Square.

CLICK NOW FOR RSVP OR MORE INFO. The free seminar, produced by Halfway To Concord, takes place at the Fellowship Hall of Faith Christian Fellowship, located at 860 Bancroft between Treat and Minert, in Walnut Creek (MAP). Bring you own lunch, bottled water, coffee, and light dessert will be available.

Carlson-Thies is a nationally recognized leader on government’s dealings with faith-based organizations, students, and professionals. During the Clinton Administration, he was instrumental in the formation of the original Charitable Choice language in the bi-partisan 1996 Welfare Reform Act. Carlson-Thies was one of the first to serve on the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, and currently serves on a Task Force of President Obama’s Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. He frequnetly consults with attorneys and organizations around the country, as well as with members of Congress, and their staffs.

All manner of faith-based organizations put faith into action as they serve others. It is because of their faith that these organizations make their distinctive contributions for the common good.

Unfortunately, opponents of faith-based service seek to suppress the religious standards and practices of faith-based organizations including schools, counseling and drug rehab, hospitals, food pantries, pregnancy counseling, adoption agencies, medical practitioners, and on and on. Tactics opponents of free expression of faith guaranteed by the First Amendment include:

- Prohibiting, the use of religion as a hiring standard (Guaranteed by 1964 Civil Rights Act)

- Making adoption and other licenses dependent on abandoning an organization’s own standards

- Requiring professional to offer services that violate their conscience

- Forbidding religious student clubs from “discriminating” when choosing leaders

- Making adherence to an expansive non-discriminatng agenda a condition of maintaining tax exempt status.

Who should attend? Electeds, government agencies, legal counsel for agencies and municipalities, service organizations, community leaders, anyone that wants an authoritative survey concerning these important issues. Grab your lunch and join us!

Tagged as: charitable choice, first amendment, IRFA, religious freedom alliance, rights of faith-based agencies, stanley carlson-thies, white house office of faith-based and Community partnerships