Candidates' positions are categorized as Pro (Yes), Con (No), Not Clearly Pro or Con, or None Found.
Candidates who have changed their positions are listed as Now their most recent position.
(Candidates are listed in alphabetical order by party; black & white photos indicate candidates who have withdrawn or who no longer meet our criteria.)
Chuck Baldwin, Founder and Minister of the Crossroad Baptist Church in Pensacola, FL, issued the following statement through his Communications Director, Mary Starrett, in an Aug. 11, 2008 email to ProCon.org:
"Only those duties, functions, and programs specifically assigned to the federal government by the Constitution should be funded. We call upon Congress and the President to stop all federal expenditures which are not specifically authorized by the U. S. Constitution, and to restore to the states those powers, programs, and sources of revenue that the federal government has usurped." Aug. 11, 2008 Chuck Baldwin
Bob Barr, former US House Representative (R-GA), stated in a July 2, 2008 press release titled "Encourage Private Charitable Giving, Says Bob Barr" on his official candidate website:
"Unfortunately, Senators John McCain and Barack Obama remain mired in a government spending mindset. Indeed, the major parties have even worked to hook private agencies on public funds...[I]t would be far better for Americans to directly support such groups. Then politics would not determine the choices of recipient or affect the organizations' operations...
[W]e should consider creating a special tax credit for charitable giving, to provide Americans with a dollar-for-dollar tax reduction for money contributed to social services. We could then deduct an equivalent amount from the federal welfare budget. This would enable Americans to shift welfare from the public to the private sectors...
One of the worst is creating a bureaucratic state that has absorbed functions once performed by individuals, groups, and communities...We must begin to reverse this process." July 2, 2008 Bob Barr
[Editor's Note: Prior to Bob Barr,'s Not Clearly Pro or Con statement above, he expressed a Pro position in this June 28, 2001 article titled "Barr Works to Advance President's Faith-Based Initiative" on his US House of Representatives website]:
"One of the reasons welfare reform has been so successful is that private charities, including those that are faith-based have continued and expanded their role in helping the most vulnerable Americans. We need to encourage that success by opening the door to more charitable involvement for Americans. The best way to do that is by expanding the number of institutions that can -- and do -- help the most needy in our society.
This legislation [HR 7 "Faith-Based and Community Initiatives Bill"] accomplishes the important goal of ensuring the federal government cannot discriminate against faith-based organizations in competition for federal dollars to carry out social programs. At the same time, the legislation we passed today protects against federal funds being used for sectarian religious purposes." June 28, 2001 Bob Barr
John McCain, US Senator (R-AZ), stated in the Aug. 16, 2008 Saddleback Presidential Candidates Forum held in Lake Forest, CA:
[Pastor Rick] Warren: Would you insist that faith-based organizations forfeit that right to access federal funds?
[John] McCain: Absolutely, not. And if you did, it would mean a severe crippling of faith-based organizations and their ability to do things so successfully."
Cynthia McKinney, former US House Representative (D-GA), issued the following statement through her Press Secretary, John Judge, in a Nov. 1, 2008 email to ProCon.org:
"No -- there needs to be a separation between church and state." Nov. 1, 2008 Cynthia McKinney
Barack Obama, US Senator (D-IL), stated in an article titled "Partnering with Communities of Faith" on his official candidate website (accessed Oct. 23, 2008):
"Barack Obama believes that we should do more to promote partnerships between government and faith-based and other nonprofit community groups to provide services to the needy and underserved...
Barack Obama will establish a new President's Council for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships within the White House. The Council will work to engage faith-based organizations and help them abide by the principles that federal funds cannot be used to proselytize, that they should not discriminate in providing their services, and they should be held to the same standards of accountability as other federal grant recipients." Oct. 23, 2008 Barack Obama
INACTIVE CANDIDATES
(Candidates who have withdrawn or who no longer meet our criteria appear below in black and white and in alphabetical order by party.)
Joe Biden, US Senator (D-DE), voted Yes on S.476, the "CARE Act of 2003," on Apr. 9, 2003:
"An original bill to provide incentives for charitable contributions by individuals and businesses, to improve the public disclosure of activities of exempt organizations, and to enhance the ability of low-income Americans to gain financial security by building assets, and for other purposes... Section 307 - Modifies the definition of convention or association of churches to state that no such grouping shall fail to qualify merely because individuals are members or because individuals have voting rights in such organization." Apr. 9, 2003 Joe Biden
Hillary Clinton, US Senator (D-NY), stated in a Jan. 20, 2005 The Boston Globe article titled "Sen. Clinton Urges Use of Faith-based Initiatives" by Michael Jonas:
"There is no contradiction between support for faith-based initiatives and upholding our constitutional principles." Jan. 20, 2005 Hillary Clinton
John Edwards, former US Senator (D-NC), stated in a Jan. 12, 2004 Jewish Telegraphic Agency article titled "John Edwards' Statement":
"In a manner consistent with the First Amendment, faith-based charities should be able to participate in delivering services. But they should also meet the same anti-discrimination standards as other charities receiving government support.
We should be encouraging faith-based initiatives in a way that values the important work of these organizations and does not divide Americans." Jan. 12, 2004 John Edwards
Rudy Giuliani, former Mayor of New York City, offered the following in an article titled "12 Commitments" on his official candidate website (accessed Oct. 30, 2007):
"Build Partnerships With Faith-Based Organizations: Rudy will help focus the work of the Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, directing the program to promote organizations uniquely prepared to provide the necessary assistance to women who choose adoption." Oct. 30, 2007 Rudy Giuliani
Mike Huckabee, former Governor of Arkansas, in an article titled "The Candidates on Faith-Based Initiatives," on the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life website (accessed Oct. 31, 2007), had the following position on federal funding for faith-based initiatives:
"Huckabee created the Governor's Office of Community and Faith-Based Initiatives in Arkansas in 2004. He also issued an executive order forcing Arkansas compliance with federal "Charitable Choice" laws in order to allow faith-based organizations to compete for funds from state agencies." Oct. 31, 2007 Mike Huckabee
Duncan Hunter, US Representative (R-CA), on July 19, 2001 voted Yes on the "Care Act of 2002" (H.R.7):
"To provide incentives for charitable contributions by individuals and businesses, to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of government program delivery to individuals and families in need, and to enhance the ability of low-income Americans to gain financial security by building assets... Modifies the definition of convention or association of churches to state that no such grouping shall fail to qualify merely because individuals are members or because individuals have voting rights in such organization." July 19, 2001 "H.R.7, 'Care Act of 2002,'" Govtrack.us website
Daniel Imperato, an Independent candidate and business entrepreneur, stated on his official candidate website (accessed Nov. 26, 2007):
"Allowing faith based organizations to work side-by-side with government during our times of need (e.g. natural disaster recovery)." Nov. 26, 2007 Daniel Imperato
Alan Keyes, former Assistant US Secretary of State, stated in a May 12, 2001 article titled "Should US Fund Faith-based Help Programs?" on the Renew America website:
"I still am not sure that the goal of seeking increased government funding of church-based help programs is a good idea. I think it is likely to kill the charity that is the life blood of such programs. We should ask whether, in fact, government funding is really beneficial either to the charitable organizations that seek it, or to the people whom such organizations 'help' with it." May 12, 2001 Alan Keyes
Dennis Kucinich, US Representative (D-OH), stated in a Nov. 19, 2003 article titled "In Their Own Words" on the Interfaith Alliance website:
"If you have a church, or if you have a church group that seeks funding from the government you can not take federal funds without there being strings attached. And as soon as those strings get attached the freedom of religion becomes a little bit eroded. I think that the idea of faith-based initiatives when they involved a path for tax dollars represents a challenge because you have to understand that there is a reason why government does this. And when political parties are involved it becomes at least problematic." Nov. 19, 2003 Dennis Kucinich
Frank McEnulty, President of Our Castle Homes, in an Oct. 30, 2007 email to ProCon.org, stated:
"I believe that faith-based groups should have the same rights to apply for federal funds as any other organization as long as those funds are to be used for purely sectarian purposes. Sometimes faith based groups are in the best position to help out in a given set of circumstances and they should not be immediately discounted just because they are affiliated with a certain religion." Oct. 30, 2007 Frank McEnulty
Ron Paul, US Representative (R-TX), stated in a July 20, 2001 article titled "Paul Offers Alternative Faith-Based Initiatives Plan" on his US House of Representatives website:
"I agree with the President that churches and private charities do a better job providing social services than government agencies...However, it's dangerous to give public funds to private organizations, because such organizations might change their faith-based message to win government favor. Churches should not become entangled with government subsidies and programs, because truly independent religious institutions are critical to a free society.
The better approach is to provide tax incentives for individuals and businesses that make direct donations to charities and faith-based providers...This increases the budgets of such providers without using taxpayer funds, enabling them to expand their charitable missions without government involvement. The goal is to reduce the role of the federal welfare state by promoting charitable solutions to community problems. Charities do a far better job of helping the poor and returning individuals to productive lives than dependency-creating federal welfare programs." July 20, 2001 Ron Paul
Bill Richardson, Governor of New Mexico, stated on "Governor Bill Richardson's Office of Faith-based & Community Initiatives" homepage, dated Mar. 31, 2005:
"For too long...New Mexico's faith-based organizations who serve the most in need and the most vulnerable among us have not had access to public funding, or have not known how to access that funding. The federal government is providing billions of dollars in funding for these kinds of agencies. This new office will cut through the red tape and make sure these important groups have a level playing field to access desperately needed financial support and potential partnerships." Mar. 31, 2005 Bill Richardson
Mitt Romney, former Governor of Massachusetts, stated in a Feb. 18, 2007 interview with George Stephanopoulos titled "Mitt Romney: The Complete Interview":
"Well, we don't fund faith-based institutions, other than when they're performing a non-faith role.
So right now we have faith-based initiatives in our state. Ann [Romney, wife] happens to lead that effort. And some of the faith-based institutions, particularly in the inner city, are doing a lot better job helping the poor, helping kids, helping families get on their feet than some government social service agencies.
So helping them in their secular role is, of course, fine.
Helping them in a religious role... that would be unacceptable." Feb. 18, 2007 Mitt Romney
Christine Smith, founder and former President of Dreams of Freedom, Inc., stated in a Nov. 12, 2007 email to ProCon.org:
"No. Charity is only charity if it is freely given. Americans' money should not be taken from them to give to any cause. The American people should keep their money so they can decide how to spend or give it. That's freedom." Nov. 12, 2007 Christine Smith
Tom Tancredo, US Representative (R-CO), voted Yes on the "Care Act of 2002" (H.R.7), on July 19, 2001:
"To provide incentives for charitable contributions by individuals and businesses, to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of government program delivery to individuals and families in need, and to enhance the ability of low-income Americans to gain financial security by building assets... Modifies the definition of convention or association of churches to state that no such grouping shall fail to qualify merely because individuals are members or because individuals have voting rights in such organization." July 19, 2001 "H.R.7, 'Care Act of 2002,'" Govtrack.us website
Fred Thompson, former US Senator (R-TN), in a Feb. 9, 2001 article titled "Help for Our Local Heroes" in his weekly column on his US Senate website, stated:
"I believe that we should stop spending billions of dollars on programs we don't know are working and allow faith-based programs to compete for this funding. These programs can work, and the federal government can set this initiative up in a way that satisfies Constitution requirements. President Bush's proposal for the Faith-Based initiative is an example of what can happen when government decision-makers search for creative approaches to building effective social programs." Feb. 9, 2001 Fred Thompson
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