Bait & Switch BradDr. Bruce Prescott’s observations from statements Brad Yarbrough made at the Interfaith Alliance Meeting at Shiloh Baptist Church in Tulsa, OK Monday May 14, 200. Brad Yarbrough is Director of the Oklahoma Office of Faith-Based Liaison. Brad: 1) Promises government money won’t be used to proselytize, but insists that faith groups won’t have to sacrifice their religious mission. 2) Promises more effective social services, but says he’s not concerned about professional standards. 3) Promises not to establish a state church, but stipulates in contracts that services should only be acceptable to 75% of the religious population in Oklahoma. 4) Promises equal access to government money, but excludes Interfaith Ministries. 5) Promises strict accountability, but refuses to accept responsibility for his ignoring minority faiths. 6) Promises contracts will be awarded according to pre-established criteria, but has failed to provide any. 7) Promises Faith Based Initiatives will transform our “culture,” but expects there will be scams and rip-offs. Dr. Bruce Prescott is Executive Director of Mainstream Oklahoma Baptists. Mainstream Baptists have set up a hotline 1-800-676-3541 to monitor government funding of religion for social services in Oklahoma. The hotline will provide information and referral to those faith groups, social service organizations, and persons who feel that the government’s faith based social services are being provided in a discriminatory or unconstitutional manner. Mainstream Baptists are not opposed to taxpayer funding of services provided by agencies that are not “pervasively religious.” Faith groups and organizations interested in learning how to do this correctly should call us for a free of copy of the booklet “Keeping the Faith — The Promise of Cooperation, The Perils of Government Funding: A Guide for Houses of Worship” produced by the Baptist Joint Committee and the Interfaith Alliance. |
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Online since April 7, 1999
E- mail questions or comments about this web site to bprescott@mainstreambaptists.orgCopyright © 1999-2003 MAINSTREAM OKLAHOMA BAPTISTS P.O. Box 6371 Norman, OK 73070-6371 (405) 329-2266.
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