Wisconsin Gets Faith-Based Office

Wisconsin Democratic Governor Jim Doyle yesterday announced that he has issued an executive order (full text) setting up an Office of Community and Faith-Based Partnerships. The Duluth News Tribune yesterday reported that the office will be funded by $100,000 in federal funds granted to the state. As in the 32 other states that have similar agencies, the Minnesota office will help local social service organizations access and effectively use federal grants. Doyle's Republican challenger in the governor's race, current U.S. Rep. Mark Green. said that Doyle was appropriating his idea. Annie Laurie Gaylor, co-founder of the Freedom From Religion foundation, said "The whole thing is just a very uneasy union between church and state. You can't separate the politics out."