Want to discriminate? Don't take federal money!

Somebody on DU said it best: "Want to discriminate? Don't take federal money!"

Unfortunately, this concept is lost on the checkbook clergy that thinks it can discriminate on your dime.

Not all religious organizations are guilty of this, of course. But a well-organized, vocal faction of right-wing groups is unwavering in its insistence on receiving tax dollars to discriminate.

A new bill in Congress would prohibit religious groups from getting federal dough if they discriminate against job applicants on the basis of religion. But a group of conservative organizations is lambasting this bill.

Outrageously, they're claiming that the Constitution and the 1964 Civil Rights Act protect their "right" to discriminate.

They actually think the 1964 Civil Rights Act protects the "right" of groups that discriminate to receive tax money? Well, that's a new one.

If you want to discriminate, don't accept tax money! Fair enough? I and other working Americans don't toil day after day so somebody can use our hard-earned money to discriminate.

On the other hand, why are religious bodies being given tax money at all? This program of bailouts for religious groups dates back only to the right-wing Congress of the '90s, which included it as part of its disastrous welfare "reform" package. The First Amendment says we're supposed to have separation of church and state. Let's start acting like it again.

(Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/26/us/26religion.htm)