Obama urged to change faith-based hiring rules

A group of clergy and lawmakers is trying to overturn a nearly
decade-old policy that allows faith-based organizations that receive
federal funds to hire and fire employees on the basis of religion.

Critics
say President Obama has reneged on a campaign promise to repeal the
policy, which was put into place by President Bush in 2002.

"It is
shocking that we would even be having a debate about whether basic
civil rights practices should apply to programs run with federal
dollars," said Rep. Bobby Scott (D., Va.). "There is just no
justification for sponsors of government-funded programs to tell job
applicants, 'We don't hire your kind.'"