ACTIVISTS DEBATE FAITH-BASED CHARITIES

Johnston, Ia. - Activists from both ends of the political spectrum split
Friday over the effectiveness of delivering social programs through the use
of faith-based organizations.

Backers say religious groups are more effective than bloated government
bureaucracies in offering services, while critics accuse such groups of
seeking government support for their conservative religious views.

"Most of the best services throughout the history of this nation have been
provided by religious-based groups," said Chuck Hurley, of the Iowa Family
Policy Center, a conservative think tank based in Des Moines.

"There is not reliable evidence of any kind that shows that faith- based
groups deliver social services more effectively," said Ben Stone, executive
director of the Iowa Civil Liberties Union.

The two squared off on Iowa Public Television's "Iowa Press" program, to be
broadcast at noon and 7 p.m. Sunday.

Supporters of faith-based charities say religious groups bring new
compassion to social programs, while critics say financing such groups
violates the separation of church and state.

Stone also questioned the effectiveness of those programs.

Hurley pointed to a program called Teen Challenge, a church-based drug and
alcohol treatment program.

"They claim an 86 percent success rate after seven years of keeping people
completely free of their drug and alcohol addiction," Hurley said.

Stone called for a closer look at the program's figures.

"They only keep track of the people who complete the program," Stone said.
"Forty percent of the people who enter the program never complete it."

In addition, Stone said, private groups can pick and choose who enters,
screening out tough cases. He said he questions "this common belief that
faith-based or religious-based social programs work better."

The effort to get government support for faith-based programs is generally
popular among religious conservatives nationwide and black churches eager
to see more resources devoted to inner cities.

The issue is increasingly prominent in Iowa. The Legislature this year
approved a $500,000 measure promoting marriage, with the money going to
Hurley's group, but Gov. Tom Vilsack vetoed it.

Stone said his group is not anti-religion, but has a consistent record of
defending religious liberties.

"The best way to enable religion to thrive is to protect it from government
interference," he said.