Some religious and political leaders are questioning the constitutionality of President George W. Bush’s announcement to allow faith-based organizations to bid for the same money as other not-for-profit organizations.Last week, Bush announced a triple-tiered approach to combating poverty, addiction and homelessness through faith-based charities. He established a new White House office focused on helping religious or faith-based organizations acquire federal tax money.The plan also would allow religious programs to compete with secular organizations for federal money for counseling, assistance and after-school programs. Bush also signed an executive order directing five Cabinet-level federal agencies to investigate how to increase participation among faith-based groups in government programs.”I like the fact that the possibility of tax-payer money will help the poor,” said the Rev. Russell J.A. Melby, Iowa regional director of Church World Service/CROP. “We have a moral obligation as a country to help the poor, but is this the best way to do it?”Melby said the constitutional aspect in question is whether Bush’s proposals violate the separation between church and state.He said more than 25 percent of Church World Services’ income already comes from the federal government, and he wonders if Bush’s proposal will even help international organizations like his.The Rev. Sarai Beck, executive director of Ecumenical Ministries of Iowa, said it is an open question whether the religious beliefs of the organizations will cross boundaries with the government if they receive federal money.”Constitutionally, if they consider only conservative organizations, then you may be overlooking other religious groups,” said Yong Lee, professor of political science. “If you consider non-Christian groups, like white-supremacy groups, are we going to [subsidize] these organizations too? This is a huge civil-rights issue.”Lee said the issue is very controversial because, no matter how Bush’s plan is considered, the Bush administration will be criticized for what they do. He said the secular economy always has participated in religious charities, but now Bush wants to allow federal money to accomplish these social objectives.”I don’t think the Bush administration will do foolish things,” Lee said.Personnel from Lutheran Social Services of Iowa said they welcome the opportunity to continue helping those in need. David Brown, director of Lutheran Social Services of Iowa at the Beloit regional center, said the agency already partners with some federal and state governments to help. However, he said the government does not cover all the costs.”I hope we can put the money to use in prevention programs,” Brown said. “Currently, most of our money goes to intervention.”Most federal money not-for-profit organizations receive has a trail of red tape attached to it, Brown said. He said he hopes the middleman will be eliminated with new regulations.”We are cautiously optimistic that we will get some federal money without the bureaucracy,” he said.Beck said there are a lot of quality faith-based organizations doing great things, and Bush’s proposal will help them to continue their crusade.”We are waiting to see what happens,” she said. “Our work is more important than funding, but funding is always helpful.”