Faith-Based Homeland Security

George W. Bush has issued an executive order creating "a Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives at the Department of Homeland Security." The Center will be run by a Director appointed by the Secretary of Homeland Security after consultation with the Director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. The original Director of WHOFBCI, John DiIulio, who blasted the Bush administration in Esquire magazine in 2002 and then quickly attempted to retract his criticisms.

Once again, reality matches The Onion.

(UPDATE: This is apparently primarily focused on disaster recovery efforts--but it still seems quite wrong for the government to engage religious organizations via contract or grant to aid in disaster recovery efforts, when these are voluntary charitable organizations. It not only involves taking from the general public to support a particular religious viewpoint, it turns a voluntary charity into a taxpayer-supported service.)