Faith-Based but Wrong
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Because Jim Towey was director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, the program associated with that office is dear to his heart ["Who'll Keep the Faith-Based Initiative?," op-ed, June 28]. Mr. Towey complained that the presidential candidates have not and are not addressing faith-based initiatives.
As an example of the good work that the office accomplished while he was director, Mr. Towey cited helping the Seattle Hebrew Academy to get disaster relief money for its recovery from earthquake damage. He said that "the White House pushed a policy change to ensure that the school was treated the same as any other school."
An important fact is missing: The academy is not like "any other school." It is a school exclusively for Jewish children.
It is absurd that it should receive taxpayer money. And it is absurd to argue that this example of giving justifies, in any way whatsoever, the continuation of the White House's faith-based initiative.
PRESLEY HARPER
Lakeville, Maine
