BUSH EXTOLS FAITH PLANS

Religious charities' right to social service contracts promoted;
'Instrument of God's love'; President says plan fits in church-state
separation principle

PHILADELPHIA - President Bush plunged into a July Fourth block party
yesterday, painting on a street mural, quarterbacking a football game and
singing the praises of religious charities.

Joined by first lady Laura Bush in a visit to the birthplace of American
democracy, Bush emerged from Greater Exodus Baptist Church in northern
Philadelphia to the smell of barbecued ribs and the sound of a thunderous
gospel choir.

In his visit to the black church's rollicking street fair and a speech
later in the day at the city's Independence National Historic Park, Bush
sought to give a push to his proposal that churches, synagogues and other
religious groups be allowed to compete for government contracts in social
services without stripping the religious elements from their programs.

If the Declaration of Independence's signers were alive today, Bush said,
they would be pleased to see the religious liberties they cherished at work
every day in religious institutions that feed the hungry, treat the
addicted and give love to alienated children.

"Our founders would ... find, amid the problems of modern life, a familiar
American spirit of faith and good works," he said. "They would see the
signs of poverty and want, but also acts of great kindness and charity."

Bush dismissed criticisms of his proposal, saying the plan merely builds on
the ideals that the nation's Founding Fathers articulated 225 years ago.

"America's founding documents give us religious liberty in principle," Bush
said. "These Americans show us religious liberty in action."

Religious freedom, he said, "is more than the right to believe in God's
love. It is the right to be an instrument of God's love. Such work is
beyond the reach of government and beyond the role of government."

The plan has not made much headway in Congress and has drawn criticism from
religious groups who fear it may restrict their activities and from civil
liberties advocates who believe it may breach the constitutional separation
of church and state.

At the bustling street party, Bush visited booths set up by religion-based
groups that offer social programs, drug and alcohol support groups and
after-school programs.

With his sleeves rolled up and a smile on his face, Bush joined in the fun,
picking up a paintbrush to dab red paint on the stripes of an American flag
on a city-sponsored street mural and playing quarterback for a few plays of
a touch football game on artificial grass laid on the street.

Bush visited Independence National Historic Park - home to Independence
Hall, where the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776 and where
the Constitution was adopted in 1787 - before heading back to Washington
for evening fireworks there.

"These are the kind of citizens that every society needs - citizens who
speak for the voiceless and feed the hungry and protect the weak and
comfort the afflicted," Bush said in a speech in front of Independence
Hall, where the Liberty Bell rang out to announce the first public reading
of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.

"America's founding documents gave us religious liberty in principle, these
Americans show us religious liberty in action," he said as he highlighted
the work of such organizations as the Philadelphia-based People for People.

Bush, who donned a red tie, white shirt and blue suit for the speech, urged
Congress to pass his plan to provide federal funding to churches and
charities to deliver social services.

"Today I call on the United States Congress to pass laws promoting and
encouraging faith-based and community groups in their important public work
- - and to never discriminate against them," Bush said. "These soldiers in
the armies of compassion deserve our support."

Bush was flanked by Philadelphia Mayor John Street, a Democrat, and
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge, a Republican, both of whom back his initiative.

Protesters' chants could be heard as he spoke.

Street dismissed objections on the plan's legality. "When people need help,
what they don't want is a constitutional debate," he said.

Bush nodded, although his aides are modifying his proposal for this reason.

One question is whether tax dollars would help pay for programs that mix
religion with social services - for instance, a drug treatment program that
helps people overcome addiction by finding Jesus.

Also at issue is to what extent funded groups can consider applicants'
religion in deciding whether to hire them.