The War on Faith Based and Community Initiatives (FBCI)

Copyright by James Carlson

George W. Bush Faith Based Initiative Executive Orders Signing Address delivered 29 January 2001, Dwight D. Eisenhower Executive Office Building, Washington, D.C.

George W. Bush signed an executive order to work with organizations who are religiously based (faith-based) to provide government/tax-payer resources to curb the mal-effects of drug addiction. This was an extension of similar programs initiated by him as Governor of the State of Texas. This has provided valuable results for the lives of people who have recovered from drug addiction through programs like Teen Challenge. However, there are those who have opposed it from the beginning.

Oddly, the history of FBCIs has intersected with the Kennedy family. Teddy Kennedy opposed legislation in the U.S. Senate during the Bush era on suspicion that the monies used by FBCIs would be used to proselytize people attending these programs. That’s like worrying about people getting wet in swimming class. Nonetheless, Teen Challenge and other similar ministries have proven their work to be successful in changing lives for the better, all to the Praise and Glory of Jesus Christ our Lord.

The idea that promoting the Gospel of Jesus Christ was contrary to our nation’s better interest begs leave of one’s senses. Religious freedom is the free exercise of religion not the freedom from religion. FBCIs promote religious freedom while offering specific paths to success that are ‘faith’ oriented.

The objections by the Teddy Kennedy were echoed in the efforts of the grandson of Robert Kennedy senior, Joseph Kennedy III, who in 2016, advocated the same line as his great-uncle about potential job discrimination, proselytizing, and violations of the separation of church and state (secular rationalist version – corrupted version). The objections stem largely from a misunderstanding of religious freedom (Christian rationalist version – original version) from secularists in our country who want atheism established as the new State Religion. However, Joe Kennedy III’s uncle, Bobby Kennedy Jr., gave a speech on Apr 24, 2025, as the HHS Secretary, emphasizing how FBCI works to provide better addiction recovery outcomes. Sadly, Joe Kennedy III has renounced his uncle for the work he is doing.

The idea of religious freedom, based upon the No Preference rule (original rule), is when a State has a compelling interest defined by results, then a religious or faith based institution can apply for funds to provide services to achieve that compelling interest. The measure isn’t religion or the lack thereof but whether or not people actually recover – get real results. Nothing even comes close to Teen Challenge and their results.

President Donald Trump signed an "Establishment of a White House Faith and Opportunity Initiative" proclamation after the National Day of Prayer ceremony at the White House in Washington on May 3, 2018.

Leah Millis / Reuters

In President Trump’s first administration, FBCIs were reaffirmed as a vital part of our nation’s recovery mechanism for people lost in the struggle of drug addiction. This was reaffirmed in Trumps second administration with the establishment of the Religious Liberty Commission (May 2025).

US President Donald Trump signed an order regarding creation of a Religious Liberty Commission during the National Day of Prayer event in Washington DC, USA, on May 1, 2025, at the Rose Garden/White House. He named Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick to chair the commission.

(Photo by Lenin Nolly/NurPhoto via AP)

President Trump signed several executive orders related to religious freedom (Religious Liberty Commission (EO 2025-05-01); Task Force to Eradicate Anti-Christian Bias (EO 14202, Feb 2025)). They are intended to review federal agencies for anti-Christian discrimination, creating a White House Faith Office, directing agencies to accommodate religious expression in the workplace, and issue guidance to protect faith-based entities. 

Exactly 25 years after President Bush began FBCIs, President Trump and Bobby Kennedy put the final touches on a new program (Great American Recovery Initiative) aimed at providing for more addiction relief through science and community. Not dismissing FBCIs, this is a renewed interest in this needed effort to help people recover from drug addiction. They want to remove the ‘stigma’ of addiction calling it a ‘disease’ rather than a moral failure.

While science has something to offer in terms of medicines and chemical analysis of addictions, addiction of any kind (drug, alcohol, etc.) is a problem within the human soul where our moral seat and choices reside. Jesus Christ observed that the number one problem of mankind was a sin problem. Drug addiction is first a problem of one’s own moral decisions to live a life apart from God – a sin problem. The addict is addicted to the sin as a slave of sin.

Jesus didn’t talk the sin problem to death, he took it head on. He paid for the penalty of sin at the Cross for the recovery of people from the slavery to sin. He healed us of our sin sick disease with the stripes on his back and the blood he shed on the Cross. Then after his death on the Cross, Jesus rose from the dead 3 days later proving his sacrifice put sin down and us up before God – we can be forgiven of our sin. This is the road to recovery. This is where real results happen.

Teen Challenge promotes the Gospel of Jesus Christ as a means to an end – real recovery and results. They do not do it with self help programs, positive mental reinforcement, or other failed liberal ideologies and methods. Real, practical, Christianity will help those addicted to drugs and alcohol through Jesus. Their relationship with God can be restored by faith in Christ’s Cross. This will bring people back into peace with God, their own conscience, and the community around them.

While the new initiatives of Bobby Kennedy and team are laudable, we should continue to focus attention on what really works. Faith based initiated are not a violation of church and state separation but a cooperative agreement to help people recover with what really works. Nothing else even comes close.