Americans should have the right to contribute only to the religious groups of their choosing (or refrain from supporting any). The “faith-based” initiative violates this concept by awarding tax dollars taken from all citizens to religious groups that may use the money to further their sectarian views. Furthermore, many of these groups take tax aid yet engage in religious discrimination in hiring. Americans United believes that any religious group that accepts public funds should be required to provide services in a secular manner and agree to hire the best-qualified applicants, not just those who belong to their faith group. We oppose the faith-based initiative as currently constituted and believe that religious groups are better off relying on private funding for their social-service projects.