Bismarck, North Dakota News

" In no way should the State of North Dakota be funding an addiction program that is part of a religious group. Teen Challange is the creation of David Wilkerson, an Assembly of God pastor and has the full support (and funding) of that denomination. Their means of helping a person kick an addiction problem is to have them become "born again" and, assumably, be part of that Pentecostal faith.

Imagine, if you will, that you are Jewish, Catholic, Buddhist, Muslim, or whatever and to obtain addiction help you have to conform to a religious belief in which you do not agree. Moreover, to be part of this program, you are constantly bombard with Bible verses which are supporsed to help you over come this problem.

Teen Challenge has a political agenda, too. I have heard some of their people speak openly of the United States being a "Christian Nation" and that the laws of the nation and individual states need to conform to the Bible, not the constitution. They are virulent theocrats and believe completely that unless you have their salvation experience you are going to hell for all of eternity.

Governor Hoeven and the legislature should have nothing to do with this and should they decide otherwise, you can count on a lawsuit from any number of quarters to force them to obey the constitution. We have had eight years of religious lunacy in this nation; isn't it time that we move away from fanatacism? If Teen Challenge wants to base its treatment program on the Bible, fine; just do not ask the state to pay for it. "

" I believe Teen Challenge helps those who want to clean up their lives. The stories about drugs and other issues are not surprising because there is quite a variety of clients there, some want help, some will just never make the decision to make better choices, but as long as they are at TC the program tries. There are drugs and other issues in prisons and correctional facilities of all kinds because there will always be those who accept the help and those who reject it and are using those facilities for self serving reasons, such as staying out of jail. If we find fault with all these facilities, and we have, (like our halfway houses, other addiction centers, youth centers), soon there won't be any of these, they will all be state run with the client/counselor ratio too big to really be personal and effective. Sure, they aren't perfect, but they have helped a great deal of people. The ones who complain the loudest and try to make these types of facilities look bad are probably those who couldn't cut it there and resent the fact they failed. I would far sooner my tax dollars go there than to keep the welfare rolls long and healthy. "

" Teen Challenge has some bad press, don't know that we should give them $500,000. http://teenchallengecult.blogspot.com/ "

" Gov. John Hoeven said the report's recommendations were used in the making of his budget for 2007 through 2009.

Hoeven included in his budget $600,000 for the expansion of drug court programs in the state; $700,000 for the expansion of the Robinson Recovery Center, a methamphetamine treatment facility in Fargo; and $150,000 to support Teen Challenge, a faith-based program to address addiction problems. The budget items were based off recommendations from the Commission on Alternatives to Incarceration.
So...are they asking for an additional $500,000? "

" My question: is the $500,000 in his budget for room and board expenses for faith-based programs ear-marked for a certain group? "

" Wow NDGuy, I never thought I'd see the day when someone from ND would advocate the Religous Right as a whole losing it's tax exempt status. I applaud you. As for faith based services, Trek Girl is correct, most faith based services require the client to submit to thier teachings in order to participate. Your comparison to hospitals is apples to oranges rather as thier are federal laws that apply to the hospitals, I beleive it's called the Hill-Burton Act, but I may have the name wrong. As for the Salvation Army, try going to one of their facilities without being subjected to an endless supply of religious doctrine staring you in the face. They even have scritpures hanging over the urinals in the men's room. Our tax dollars have no place in thses facilities and I wouldn't be surprised to see a lawsuit to stop this blantant violation of the Establishemnt Clause. "

" To TrekGirl, Quote, Faith-based initiatives cater ONLY to those who hold certain religious beliefs. End Quote. When was the last time someone was denied soup or a place to sleep by the Salvation Army because of their religious affiliation or lack of such? Is the Salvation Army not 'faith-based'? When was the last time anyone was refused medical treatment at a 'faith-based' hospital because of their religious affiliation? Please revise your statement. "

" So, according to those of you here and your interpretation of 'separation of church and state', St. Alexius hospital, the University of Mary and any other institution with a 'church' affiliated sponsorship should not be allowed to receive 'state' funds. This is the logical conclusion to your arguments. Am I reading your posts correctly? Think very carefully before you answer. As for those 'churches' that advocate for a particular political party or candidate losing their tax exempt status, I am in full agreement. As for those 'churches' that advocate for a moral or ideological stand based upon their core beliefs, I see no reason for them to lose their tax exempt status since they are neither promoting or detracting a particular political party or candidate. "

" Despite it's absence in the Constitution or Bill of Rights, church-state separation serves a vital purpose in our country. Faith-based initiatives cater ONLY to those who hold certain religious beliefs. Those who do not, cannot comfortably participate. A non-theist, for example, wouldn't make it past Step 2 of a 12-step program. Churches in our country already receive benefits from the government in the form of tax exemption. They should not receive government grants or funds to promote their doctrines. "

" Get Real - I can't believe you still don't know this - the writings of Thomas Jefferson. Perhaps you should retake an early American History class. "

" Concerned: Tell me what document talks about "seperation of chruch and state" I know of none. The Bill of Rights only states "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion" meaning that they cannot say XYZ is the national religion. I have never understood where this seperation of church and state comes from. "

" I am wondering why we would want to fund faith based programs like Teen Challenge? Last year there were several issues that arose there that were kept out of the papers including the immediate terminiation of the Director of Admissions and possession of drugs by a number of the "clients". We need to seek alternatives that we can have oversight of, not throw money away on programs that have no track records of success. "

" "Faith Based Addiction Programs"

How can money be appropriated for faith based recovery programs, when it is a complete violation of the seperation of church and state. Our own human services department cannot even mention GOD or Higher Power in their current addiction treatment programs, and cannot make clients in treament attend 12 step programs. What works for people with addiction issues is the 12 step programs that are listed daily in the Tribune "