Religious and political connections drive government grants

June 23, 2008

On Thursday, June 19th, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee held a hearing to examine grant-making practices at the Department of Justice. Specifically, the Committee was investigating whether J. Robert Flores, Administrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), awards government grants based on theological and political connections rather than merit.

Allegations of the misuse of federal dollars came from staff members who work with Mr. Flores at the OJJDP. They said he ignores ratings showing which programs are objectively deemed most effective. Instead, they claimed, Flores gives grants to organizations that are in line with his religious and political beliefs.

One of the most egregious examples highlighted in the hearing concerned an organization called Victory Outreach. Despite its status as "not recommended" for funding, with a staff ranking of 44 out of 104 applicants, Mr. Flores awarded Victory Outreach a $1.2 million grant.

Victory Outreach is described as a "church-oriented Christian ministry called to the task of evangelizing and discipling the hurting people of the world, with the message of hope and plan of Jesus Christ." Embarrassingly, the organization was unable to follow through with its funded project and had to return the money to the Department of Justice.

In contrast, the National Child Protection Training Center at Winona State University offers training for social workers, teachers, nurses, police officers and others to detect and respond to signs of child abuse. Although it was rated 4th of the 104 programs assessed by Flores's staff, Flores chose not to give the program any money -- despite the fact that the Justice Department lists child abuse and neglect as one of its ten priority funding areas.

Another organization known as the Best Friends Foundation was rated 53 out of 104 applications; yet it, too, was awarded a $1.1 million grant -- twice what it had requested. Staffers suggested that Mr. Flores funded this program against their recommendation because it is headed by Elayne Bennett, the wife of Bill Bennett, who served in the Reagan and Bush administrations.

Staff working under Mr. Flores told the House Oversight Committee that Mr. Flores prays frequently in his office and believes in abstinence-only sex education, possibly another reason for the Best Friends program receiving funding while organizations that provide birth control and comprehensive sex education did not.

The Secular Coalition for America responded with outrage to Mr. Flores's apparent manipulation of federal dollars to fund religious missions.

"This week's hearing highlights what we have been seeing for the past seven years: that the Bush administration is bound and determined to shift government monies to evangelical pursuits and church programs. Effective secular programs are being starved of government assistance as religious groups line up for government handouts," said Secular Coalition for America director Lori Lipman Brown.

"It is time to go back to treating all grant seekers equally and reverse the trend of privileging religious groups over all others."