Fate of Faith-Based Initiative Questionable After Bush

The three individuals to have donated the most to charity in the history of the world - Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, and Andrew Carnegie - have all been atheists. The current largest private charity in the world is the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, owned by atheists, and it is followed closely by charities such as the Red Cross and the United Way which have no religious affiliations. There is no logical basis to deny such charities Federal funding simply because they are not religious enough for you. There never was such a basis, which is why Bush was forced to implement his initiative through the White House rather than through Congress in the first place.

As an atheist, and someone who volunteers for charity, let me say that I'll be glad when this program has returned to its rightful place in the dustbin of history, so that the real charities of this nation can continue their work.

Ron Paul is against any Govt/Church relationship. His belief is that the church should be doing that type of work anyways. He states "Churches should not become entangled with government subsidies and programs because truly independent religious institutions are critical to a free society,"