Bush promotes support for `all religions under the Almighty God': (People and Events).

President George W. Bush continued to lobby on behalf of his controversial "faith-based" initiative in April, urging the Senate to pass legislation dealing with the issue by Memorial Day.

At a White House event April 11, Bush said he remains committed to expanding support for religious charities nationwide and wants to "eliminate the hurdles and barriers that prevent the neighborhood healers and helpers from doing their jobs."

Bush defended the need for his initiative by insisting that charities have been struggling in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks due to increased demand for services and fewer contributions. He added that his faith-based plan, which has drawn criticism from the political right, left and center since being unveiled over a year ago, could assist charities with aid for multiple faith traditions.

"[G]overnment can write checks, but it can't put hope in people's hearts, or a sense of purpose in people's lives," Bush said. "That is done by people who have heard a call and who act on faith and are willing to share that faith. And I'm not talking about a particular religion; I'm talking about all religions under the Almighty God. And we should not fear those kind of programs."

Bush reiterated his insistence that religious groups that get federal aid should be able to maintain their religious character.

"The federal government," he said, "should not discriminate against faith. There must be a level playing field available. When we have federal monies, people should be allowed to access that money without having to lose their mission or change their mission. We need to know that in our society, faith can move people in ways that government can't."

Bush argued that addiction, prison rehabilitation, children's services and anti-crime programs operated by religious; groups may be more effective than other programs. (Scholars say current studies do not confirm this assertion.)

Bush praised the House for passing H.R. 7, a "good piece of legislation," and urged the Senate to take action on a faith-based bill.

In February, Bush announced he had reached an agreement with Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-Conn.) on a revamped faith-based scheme that emphasizes tax incentives for greater donations to charities. Lieberman and Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) have introduced the so-called "CARE Act of 2002" (Charity Aid, Recovery and Empowerment).

The measure, S. 1924, avoids the most controversial features of the president's original plan, the so-called "charitable choice" provisions that raised the ire of civil rights and civil liberties advocates. But it retains provisions allowing publicly funded faith-based groups to post unlimited amounts of icons and scriptures in their facilities.

The president used the White House event to urge prompt action on the CARE Act, concluding that the legislation would spur increased charitable donations by allowing taxpayers who do not itemize on their tax returns a chance to deduct charitable gifts.

Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) has indicated that he will bring the bill to the floor soon and expects the legislation to pass with bipartisan support.

Republican House leaders, including Conference Chairman J.C. Watts (R-Okla.) have expressed hesitation about the Senate compromise bill, arguing it doesn't go far enough. Watts' H.R. 7 permits publicly funded religious groups to engage in hiring discrimination on religious grounds.