S.F. GROUPS WARY OF BUSH'S PLAN FOR FAITH-BASED CHARITY

With wary optimism, Santa Fe social-service agencies are questioning the
merits of a federal plan to attract more religious groups into providing
social services.

President George W. Bush outlined details last week of a proposal to expand
aid to religious organizations that offer social services to their communities.

Although the federal administration has not released any cost estimates,
the main part of the president's plan will put religious groups on equal
footing with other agencies that pursue billions of dollars in federal
grants, according to a New York Times article last week.

The reactions in Santa Fe are mixed: Some welcome any new funding to
relieve the problems of poverty and hunger here; others worry that the
proposal will take money away from other deserving organizations.

"Are they expecting churches to pick up the load, to become a welfare
agency? Because that kind of bothers me," said the Rev. Richard Murphy,
rector at St. Bede's Episcopal Church. "If it's a partnership where
church-based organizations can be a recipient of federal money to do what
they do, that would be fine."

Bush has said that he hopes more churches will take the lead in social
service if the government provides seed money through a "compassion capital
fund," according to Associated Press reports.

Faith-based organizations are already involved in helping the poor if they
want to be, said Hank Hughes, executive director of St. Elizabeth's, a
nonfaith-based agency that helps the homeless.

"My take is the government is trying to shirk its responsibility to take
care of poor people," Hughes said. "It's everybody's responsibility, not
just religious people."

Besides that, churches are not necessarily designed to provide social
services, Hughes said.

"I think the thing that's missing from the debate is that the Bush
administration - like a lot of conservative people - think the churches can
do it better than the government or secular groups," Hughes said. "I don't
think that's true. Anyone can do it if they have enough resources. The
point is, we don't have enough resources."

The majority of social-service agencies in Santa Fe are not faith-based,
but there are a handful of religious organizations that reach out to the
community through tutoring, food, housing and clothing for the poor. Of the
85 agencies that receive food from the Food Depot, about 20 are
faith-based, according to Christiana Torricelli, executive director of the
Food Depot.

Although her organization would not be affected by Bush's proposal because
it doesn't receive government funding, Torricelli is worried about the
secular agencies that might be pushed out because religious groups are
receiving more of the federal money.

"What I'm afraid of is classifying a certain amount to faith-based groups
is going to make a lot of charities question whether they should become
faith-based," Torricelli said.

Right now, she does not see any competition between faith-based and secular
organizations.

"I see it as a comfort level," she said. "Some people feel more comfortable
going to their church or priest for help. Others feel better going to their
neighborhood food bank. I don't think they should be put into a position
where a service that was being provided to them is cut off due to lack of
funding because another organization is faith-based."

The Bush administration has assured the public that government agencies
will make sure there is a secular alternative to any services provided by a
religious group, according to reports this week.

Social-service agencies should be very careful to not impose their own
religious beliefs as a requirement for service, cautioned Gregory Kepferle,
executive director of Catholic Charities in Santa Fe. He said some people
may not be ready for a spiritual component to a program or some may be of a
different faith.

"That's a dangerous way to use religion - you need to believe as we do
before we'll house you or feed you," Kepferle said. "We're not called to
shelter the homeless only if they pray to our God. We're called regardless
of who they are."

In some ways, Bush's proposal may not change anything for social services
in Santa Fe, Kepferle said.

"For many decades, the government has funded faith-based organizations, but
they've been doing it in a way so it's at arm's length from a religious
institution," Kepferle said.

For example, Catholic Charities - while supported by the Catholic church -
is separately incorporated.

"What's wonderful about that is the government is able to fulfill our
mission without us losing our values and the government getting involved in
religious affairs," Kepferle said.

Despite some misgivings, everyone has embraced the portion of the
president's plan that allows taxpayers who do not itemize to claim a
deduction for contributions to charitable organizations.

"If they're allowed to get a tax break, hopefully it will encourage them to
donate more to charities," Kepferle said.

Regardless of funding for social services, such organizations as Kitchen
Angels and the Boys & Girls Club prove that Santa Fe has a plethora of
services available to people in need.

"I think there's a genuine charitable spirit in Santa Fe," Torricelli said.
"This town is a wonderful community because it really pulls itself together
to serve disenfranchised people. There's a viable safety net happening, but
it's a very delicate balance."