Last Thursday, the White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships posted the preliminary votes by its Advisory Council on two contentious issues. The final votes were posted today. [The following has been updated to reflect the final vote.]
The first issue is whether faith-based social service providers should be allowed to provide services in rooms that contain religious symbols, artwork or messages. Two members voted to ban any religious symbols. Seven members voted to allow symbols when there is no space in the organization's offices without them and when removing or covering them would be infeasible, so long as objecting clients also have a choice of a different provider to which they do not object. Sixteen members voted not to require removal or covering of symbols, but to encourage providers to be sensitive and to attempt to accommodate those who object, and have alternative providers available if that is not sufficient.
The second issue is whether the government should require houses of worship to form separate corporations to receive direct federal social service funds. Thirteen voted yes; 12 voted no. (See prior related posting.)
