BUSH RENEWS FAITH-BASED INITIATIVE PUSH

DALLAS - In a speech replete with references to "miracles" and a "higher
power bigger than people's problems," President Bush (news - web sites) on
Wednesday renewed his push to let religious groups compete for government
money.

"The best way to help the addict ... is to change their heart," Bush said
in a reference to how he stopped drinking at age 40. "See, if you change
their heart, then they change their behavior.

"I know!" Bush said, thrusting a finger into the air.

Bush spoke to a packed auditorium at the Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship here
where several hundred, mostly black, parishioners sang and swayed to gospel
music and chanted "U.S.A. U.S.A." when the president walked in.

There to dedicate a new youth education center for Operation Turnaround, a
job, literacy and social services program, Bush called for legislation that
would give religious groups access to federal funds as long as their
services are available to anyone.

When Bush's faith-based initiative stalled in Congress, Bush began
sidestepping lawmakers with executive orders and regulations to give
religious organizations equal footing in competing for federal contracts.

"We don't want the church to be the state and we don't want the state to be
the church," Bush said. "But the government should support the good work of
religious people who are changing America."

Opponents worry that government would wind up paying for religion.

"Bush's faith-based initiative would inevitably entangle government with
religion," said Barry Lynn, director of Americans United for Separation of
Church and State.

La Fayette Holland, the congregation's director of Project Turnaround, said
that while he agrees with the philosophy of Bush's faith-based initiative,
if the federal money came with restrictions that violated the
congregation's strategy of helping individuals from the "inside out," it
would likely decline it.

"We need to wait and see," Holland said. "So much of what we do is based on
a biblical program. We just don't want to help an individual on this side
of the Earth; we want to help them throughout all eternity. On this campus,
we will share our faith."

About 50 people lined the street in a south Dallas neighborhood where Bush
spoke to protest the war in Iraq (news - web sites), Bush's stance on
education and health care and what they said was his neglect of the black
community. One carried a sign that read: "Who would Jesus bomb?"

Bush flew to Dallas after a White House event where he underscored his
support for a Medicare prescription drug benefit. He plans to stay to stay
at his ranch through the weekend, leaving from there to attend events in
four states.

On Thursday, Bush is to talk about energy and attend two fund-raisers in
Columbus, Ohio, and another money-raiser in San Antonio. On Saturday, he is
to make two stops in Mississippi and two in Kentucky to support Republican
gubernatorial candidates facing voters there next Tuesday. Before returning
to Washington on Monday, Bush stops in Birmingham, Ala., to raise more
money for his campaign.