White House proposes rules on faith-based social services
The Obama administration released proposed rules August 5 designed to protect the religious freedom of people who receive social services from government-funded religious programs.
The regulations, involving nine federal agencies, would extend rules from a 2010 executive order so they last beyond this administration, said Melissa Rogers, director of the White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships.
The rules include notifying social service beneficiaries that they cannot be discriminated against based on their religious beliefs and may request an alternative provider if they object to the religious nature of the current provider.
