A U.S. Faith Initiative for Africa

LA Times ^ | May 29, 2005 | Peter Wallsten and Tom Hamburger

[stylin_geek]

WASHINGTON — Escalating its courtship of a politically powerful constituency, the Bush administration is teaming up with some of the nation's best-known and most influential black clergy to craft a new role for U.S. churches in Africa.

The effort was launched last week, when more than two dozen leading African American religious figures met privately with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and senior White House officials at the State Department, according to administration officials and meeting participants.

The hourlong session focused largely on how the administration's faith-based initiative could be expanded to combat the spread of HIV and provide help for tens of millions of children orphaned by the epidemic across Africa.

Some of the pastors said it was a matter of national security — that those orphans were susceptible to recruitment by Islamic extremists unless they could be exposed to churches such as theirs.

The gathering yielded no formal financial commitment from the federal government for the Africa effort. But participants said it marked a new era of engagement by black clergy with U.S. foreign policy.

The Rev. O'Neal Dozier, pastor of the Worldwide Christian Center in Pompano Beach, Fla., and a longtime Republican, said Rice's decision to huddle with the pastors gave them a "mandate" to craft Africa policy. He said the group had laid plans to meet again soon with State Department officials.

[stylin_geek]

This is a pretty good article, thanks to Hugh Hewitt for the tip. Amazingly, it well worth the read, even though published in the LA Times.

[ClaireSolt]

Sounds great. It is time to break the culture of dependancy by learning to lend a halping hand instead of demanding a hand out.

[Amos the Prophet]

Perfectly on-track with fundamental principles of a free society. In a free and open society the private sector is the instrument of government's authority. When social issues assume substantial moral standing it is nongovernment agencies and especially the religious community that can bring to bear the most informed and viable resources. This is common human decency. As such, there will be vigorous opposition from all the same suspects.
While we are on the subject of anti society terrorist cabals, let us add one more name to the enemies list of evil empires: the ACLU and its antiChristian minions. They most certainly will vomit their vile diatribe upon this magnificent effort.
God bless you, Condi. Truth and the right are on your side.