Dear Member of Congress:
We have become aware that an amendment may be offered to the Head Start bill on the House floor that would give faith-based organizations providing Head Start services the right to discriminate with federal funds against employees who are of different faiths. As faith-based organizations providing Head Start services, we strongly oppose such an amendment.
We know that Head Start is a model for demonstrating that a strong prohibition on religious employment discrimination with federal funds is fully compatible with federal assistance to faith-based charities. Faith-based organizations, like us, can and do fully participate in federally funded programs without discriminating in hiring with those same federal funds. We see no reason to change the law to allow us to use federal funds to discriminate against our employees. We are more than capable and willing to balance the civil rights of our employees with our religious mission.
We strongly support and appreciate the valued role faith-based organizations have played in operating Head Start programs and our right as religious institutions to preserve the integrity of our own religious character when it comes to religious activities. Consistent with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and prevailing federal court decisions, faith-based organizations may discriminate in employment on the basis of religion with private funds, but we are precluded from doing so when federal funding is being used.
We disagree that it is healthy for the federal government to provide funds for secular purposes to any organization that would then turn around and use these funds in a discriminatory fashion on religious grounds. It simply goes against the core values of Head Start to allow discrimination in our programs.
We are greatly concerned that the provision to remove civil rights protections for employees could have a negative impact on the children and families who participate in these programs. Tens of thousands of at-risk 3- and 4-year-old children currently in Head Start could lose their teachers - who often are the most important adults to whom they have bonded, other than their parents - not because those teachers are doing a bad job, but because they are the ""wrong"" religion.
As faith-based organizations providing Head Start services, we urge you to reject any amendment to allow discrimination in Head Start. Such a provision is incompatible with our deeply rooted traditions, our faith, and the mission of this program.
Sincerely,
M. Corrinne Chafey
YMCA Twin Creeks Head Start
Meadville, Pennsylvania
Jacqueline Carter
South Shore Bible Baptist Church
Chicago, Illinois
Dottie Donivan
Resurrection Behavioral Health Care
Child Development Center
Bellwood, Illinois
Liz Lockhart
Healing Temple Church of God in Christ
Chicago, Illinois
Philip Klein
Project Socila Care Head Start
Brooklyn, New York
Pam Taylor
Volunteers of America Children's Center Head Start
Rochester, New York
Gale Lindo
Westside Holistic Family Services
Chicago, Illinois
Joanny Ruiz
The Educational Alliance
New York, New York
Mimi Toelle
Childserv Inc.
Chicago, Illinois
Vivian Baez
First Baptist Church Head Start
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Bonnie Ullman
Mosholu Montefiore Head Start
Bronx, New York